Founded
in 1899, Fiat built its first aircraft engine in 1908 and
formed SIA (Societa Italiana Aviazione) to produce aircraft
in 1914. By the
end of World War I, Fiat had developed the A 14, the world's most
powerful engine in production and merged SIA into the parent firm.
During the 1920s, large, powerful engines remained
Fiat's forte. The AS 6 of 1931 was comprised of two V-12s
mounted in tandem driving a contra-rotating propeller. Fiat
also built successful aircraft during the 1920s and 30s including
the CR.32 bi-plane fighter.
Except for a license built Daimler-Benz DB605,
Fiat' engine division focused on radial engines during World War II. After the
war, Fiat entered the jet age by building U.S. and British aircraft
and engines under license as well as light aircraft of their own
design.
In 1969, Fiat's aircraft division joined
IRI-Finmeccanica to form Aeritalia (later Alenia).
Fiat's engine division continued as a separate company and was
renamed Fiat Aviazione in 1976 and simply Avio in
2003.
