Ambrosini Rondone

{{Short description|Italian light aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use British English|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = Ambrosini Rondone | logo = | logo_size = | image = Ambrosini F.7 Rondone II D-ECUN Schaffen-Diest 15.08.09R.jpg | alt = | caption = F.7 Rondone II at an aircraft rally at Schaffen-Diest airfield (Belgium) in August 2009 | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Light touring monoplane | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = Italy | manufacturer = SAI Ambrosini | design_group = | designer = Ing. Stelio Frati | builder = | issuer = | status = Still in service | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 20 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1951 | retired = | first_flight = 1951 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Ambrosini Rondone''' is an Italian-designed two/three-seat light touring monoplane of the early 1950s.

==Development==

The Rondone was created to satisfy the demand for a more contemporary touring aircraft from Italian private pilots and aero clubs. Stelio Frati prepared the basic design for the prototype two-seat F.4 Rondone I<ref name=Green/> which was built by CVV in 1951. This was followed by nine production examples produced by SAI Ambrosini in collaboration with Aeronautica Lombardi.<ref name=Simpson>Simpson, 2001, p. 38</ref>

The three-seat F.7 Rondone II first flew on 10 February 1954 and the prototype and nine production examples were built for Ambrosini by Legnami Pasotti.<ref name=Simpson/>

The Rondone is of conventional wooden construction with a plywood-covered one-piece single spar wing and a monocoque fuselage. The tricycle undercarriage is retractable. Two-position flaps and dual controls are fitted. The Rondone II has an extended cabin with additional rear side windows.<ref name=Green>Green, 1965, p. 84</ref> [[File:Ambrosini F.4 Rondone I LIN 31.07.65 edited-3.jpg|thumb|right|F.4 Rondone I two-seater at Milan Linate airport in 1965]]

==Operational history==

The Rondone was initially mainly sold to individuals and clubs in Italy, but examples later served in France and Germany. Several were still operational in 2009.

==Variants== ;F.4 Rondone I prototype :Two-seater with a {{convert|65|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Walter Mikron III. 1 built.<ref name="aba823p67">''Archive'' 1982, p. 67</ref> ;F.4 Rondone I production aircraft :Two-seater with an {{convert|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental C-85 or {{convert|90|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Continental C-90. 10 built.<ref name="aba823p67"/> ;F.7 Rondone II :Three-seater with a {{convert|90|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental C90 or {{convert|135|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Lycoming O-290-D2 engine.<ref name="aba823p69"/><ref name=JAWA56-57/> 10 built from new plus one converted from a F.4. Some were later fitted with a {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental O-200 engine.<ref name="aba823p69">''Archive'' 1982, p. 69</ref>

==Specifications (F.7 Rondone II with Lycoming engine)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956-57<ref name=JAWA56-57>Bridgman 1956, p. 171.</ref> |prime units?=met  |crew=1 |capacity=3 passengers (Lycoming engine) |length m=6.80 |length note= |span m=9.30 |span note= |height ft=7 |height in=5 |height note=<ref name=Simpson/> |wing area sqm=10.6 |wing area note= |aspect ratio=6.6 |airfoil= |empty weight kg=530 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=900 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity={{cvt|142|L|USgal impgal|1}} in three fuselage tanks |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Lycoming O-290-D2 |eng1 type=4-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine |eng1 hp=135 |eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2 |prop name=fixed-pitch propeller |prop dia m= |prop dia note=  |max speed kmh=265 |max speed note= |cruise speed mph=145 |cruise speed note=<ref name=Simpson/> |stall speed kmh=75 |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed note= |range km=700 |range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m=4500 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |climb rate ftmin=850 |climb rate note=<ref name=Simpson/> |time to altitude= |wing loading kg/m2=68 |wing loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |power/mass={{cvt|0.0478|hp/lb|order=flip}} |more performance=<br/> *'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt|130|m|0}} *'''Landing run:''' {{cvt|100|m|0}}

}}

==References== {{commons category}} {{reflist}} ;Bibliography

* {{cite magazine |title=Aircraft of European Civil Registers: 3 : The designs of Stelio Frati |magazine=Archive |publisher=Air-Britain |year=1982 |issue=3 |pages=67–74 |issn=0262-4923}} * {{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956-57 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1956 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd |location=London }} * {{cite book|last=Green|first=William|title=The Aircraft of the World|year=1955|publisher=Macdonald and Co. (Publishers) Ltd}} * {{cite book|last=Simpson|first=Rod|title=Airlife's World Aircraft|year=2001|publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd|isbn=1-84037-115-3}}

Category:1950s Italian civil utility aircraft Category:Low-wing aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1951