THE ITALIAN AIR FORCE

WE publish this month an exhaustive survey of the types of aeroplane in current use by the Regia Aeronautica. The general impression gained from a cursory inspection of the illustrations is that Italian military aeroplanes are clumsy in appearance and by no means up‐to‐date in comparison with British machines. This impression is confirmed when a more detailed examination of their characteristics is made. The performance figures, as from time to time officially stated, are conflicting and of extremely doubtful reliability; but even if they are taken at their highest they are not particularly impressive. This view has received further support from experience in combat, so far as this has gone at present; for even in action against Gladiators, which can hardly now be considered representative of the present‐day British fighter, they have not shown up particularly well.