Maroto FA-1

Maroto FA-1
A Maroto FA-1 in 1942.
Role	Attack aircraft
National origin	Creeperopolis
Manufacturer	Maroto Aircraft Company
Designer	Mauricio Maroto Galván
First flight	December 1927
Introduction	3 February 1928
Retired	1972
Status	Retired; various aircraft on display
Primary users	Creeperian Air Force Castillianan Air Force Atlántidan Air Force Salvadoran Air Force
Produced	1927–1944
Number built	540
Developed from	Maroto E-1

The Maroto FA-1, nicknamed the Guerrillero (literally "war fighter"), is a Creeperian single-engine biplane attack aircraft built by the Maroto Aircraft Company. The aircraft was the first to be mass produced by Maroto Aircraft; from 1927 to 1944, 540 Maroto FA-1s were built. The aircraft saw extensive usage throughout the Creeperian Civil War and saw service with various countries. Although the aircraft was retired by the Creeperian Air Force in 1952, it continued service with other air forces until 1972. Various Maroto FA-1s are on display in museums.

History

In 1926, the Creeperian Air Force ordered an attack aircraft from the Maroto Aircraft Company to compliment the Maroto E-1 reconnaissance aircraft which was already in service. Between 1926 and 1927, Mauricio Maroto Galván personally designed the aircraft and the first prototype was built in late-1927. The aircraft was named the Maroto FA-1, with "FA" standing for Fuerza Aérea (Creeperian Spanish for "Air Force").

Operators

• Atlántida
  • Atlántidan Air Force
• Castilliano
  • Castillianan Air Force
• Creeperopolis
  • Creeperian Air Force
• El Salvador
  • Salvadoran Air Force
• Noundures
  • Free Noundurian Army
• Pavulturilor
  • Pavulturilori Air Force

Specifications

The design of the Maroto FA-1.

General characteristics

• Crew: Two (pilot & observer / gunner)
• Length: 29 ft 7 in (9.02 m)
• Wingspan: 39 ft 8 in (12.09 m)
• Height: 11 ft (3.4 m)
• Max takeoff weight: 4,985 lb (2,261 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Ribelles Guerrillero inverted air-cooled V-12 piston engine, 433 hp (323 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn)
• Cruise speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
• Range: 400 mi (640 km, 350 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,600 m)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 6 × forward firing .30-cal. (7.62 mm) Figueroa-30 machine guns, two in the fuselage + one in each wing
  • 2 × flexible .30-cal. Figueroa-31 machine guns
• Bombs: Provision for 100 lb (45 kg) of bombs mounted on lower wing racks

See also

• List of Maroto Aircraft Corporation products