The Macchi MC.200 Saetta was Mario Castoldi's design team's first monoplane fighter. Protests by pilots caused the first main production aircraft to have open cockpits and combat equipment that was simple in the extreme. It was a match for the Hurricane and P-40, with outstanding dogfight performance and no vices. From late 1940 until Italy's surrender in September 1943 the MC.200 saw more combat than any other Italian type.
First flown on 10 August 1940, the Macchi MC.202 Folgore (Lightning) was essentially a re-engined Saetta but was much more powerful. From the outset the cockpit was completely enclosed. Despite the much longer and heavier engine manoeuvrability was almost as good as the Saetta's. About 1500 were built by 1943, achieving complete superiority over the Hurricane and P-40.
The more poerful Macchi MC.205 Veltro (Greyhound) flew on 19 April 1942, but pathetic industrial performance on both engine and airframe limited the output to only 262 machines. The MC.205 Veltro was an outstanding machine retaining all the agility of earlier Macchi fighters.
