Isotta Fraschini Zeta

The Isotta Fraschini Zeta was an air cooled X engine with 24 cylinders developed by the Italian engineering company Isotta Fraschini in the 1940s. It was developed as an indigenous alternative to the imported Daimler-Benz DB 605 that was being built under licence as the Fiat RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone. The engine was essentially two Gamma V12 engines on a single crankshaft, but proved troublesome to develop and never entered production.

Background
During the 1930s, Isotta Fraschini had developed a line of air cooled inverted V12 aircraft engines including the 540 hp Gamma. These proved moderately successful at a time when most Italian aircraft engines were radials, including Isotta Fraschini’s own K.14. In 1939, the Italian air ministry, looking for an appropriate power plant for their next generation of fighter aircraft, approached Germany to license the Daimler-Benz DB 605. An inverted V12 like the Isotta Fraschini designs, it differed in its liquid cooling but also in its capability, being over twice as powerful as the Italian engines. To compete with this, and other foreign designs like the Rolls-Royce Merlin, Isotta Fraschini developed the Zeta.

Design
The Zeta was, in essence, two Gamma R.C.15 V-12 engines coupled to a single crankshaft. The engine consisted of an aluminium crankcase with four cylinder banks, each mounted at 90 degrees, with six cylinders. Each cylinder had a single intake and exhaust valve, driven by dual camshafts, and two spark plugs. The whole engine was designed to be fitted as a replaceable power pack.

Development
Isotta Fraschini was owned by Caproni, who also produced aircraft, including the Caproni Vizzola F.4 which was originally planned to have an Isotta Fraschini V-12 engine but flew with a Daimler-Benz DB 601. The company also developed the Caproni Vizzola F.6 derived from this design, powered by the more powerful Daimler-Benz DB 605. On 7 October 1941, the design of a version of the F.6, named F.6Z, to be powered by the new Zeta was instigated, the first aircraft being ordered on 16 June 1942. In October 1942, Reggiane, also owned by Caproni, was also tasked by the Air Ministry to develop a version of their Reggiane Re.2005 with the new engine. Seven examples of the proposed Reggiane Re.2004 were ordered.

However, engine development was proving difficult; the first Zeta R.C.45 was run on 28 February 1941,rated at 1200 hp, but would only develop 1085 hp, as well as having many other issues. Resolving these took time and when the more powerful Zeta RC24/60 was run in May 1943, it still failed its type test. Reggiane tested a mock-up in a wind tunnel and mounted it in the nose of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 but cooling problems continued to hold development back. It was not until 14 August 1943 that the first engine took to the air in a Caproni Vizzola F.6Z, nearly two years after the Daimler-Benz-powered F.6M.

Further development ceased following the armistice on 8 September 1943. By this time, Reggiane was still waiting for their first engine. As a consequence, the company had already started developing their own engine, the 18 cylinder Reggiane Re 103. The sole F.6Z remained the only aircraft flown with the Zeta.

Variants

 * Zeta R.C.15/45 : Project with two-speed supercharger, rated at 1500 m and 4500 m.
 * Zeta R.C.21/60 : Project with two-speed supercharger, rated at 2100 m and 6000 m.
 * Zeta R.C.22/50 : Project with two-speed supercharger, rated at 2200 m and 5000 m.
 * Zeta R.C.24/60 : 1250 hp version with a two-speed Wright supercharger, rated at 2400 m and 6000 m, for the Reggiane Re.2004 and Caproni-Vizzola F.6Z.
 * Zeta R.C.35 : Initial design, 1150 hp, rated at 3500 m.
 * Zeta R.C.40 : Project, rated at 4000 m.
 * Zeta R.C.42 : 1200 hp project, rated at 4200 m.
 * Zeta R.C.45 : Version for Caproni-Vizzola F.6Z, rated at 4500 m.
 * Zeta R.C.50SD : Project with Isotta Fraschini supercharger, rated at 5000 m.

Applications

 * Ambrosini SAI.403 (unbuilt, Zeta R.C.21/60)
 * Breda Ba.201 (trial)
 * Caproni Ca.331 C.N. Raffica (unbuilt)
 * Caproni Ca.350 (unbuilt, Zeta R.C.42)
 * Caproni Vizzola F.6Z
 * Reggiane Re.2004
 * Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 (mock-up only for development)