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How many SAI.207s were completed out of an order for 2,000?
Short answer
None: of the order for 2,000 aircraft, no production aircraft were built following the mixed results of the operational evaluation and the signing of the Armistice. Only the pre-production batch of 12 units, which served briefly with three squadrons, and three prototypes were completed.
From racing aircraft to light fighter
The SAI.207 was developed from the Ambrosini SAI.7 racing and sport monoplane, once the light-fighter concept had been proven. Only ten of the original SAI.7 were built. One of those aircraft set a world speed record over a 100 km closed circuit on 27 August. The first of three prototypes was completed and flew in the autumn of 1940. The other two fighter prototypes were built as SAI.207s and first flew in the spring of 1941 and the spring of 1942.
An order for 2,000 that never materialised
The Ministero dell'Aeronautica ordered 2,000 aircraft, plus a pre-production batch of 12 for operational testing. After the mixed results of that operational evaluation and the signing of the Armistice, no production aircraft were built.
A very brief service life
The pre-production batch of 12 aircraft served briefly with three squadrons. Despite its speed, Italian pilots were not impressed with the type, and its service ended soon after, in the summer of 1943.
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