The Falco was quite possibly the most capable biplane fighter ever produced: the problem was that it was up against Spitfires and Hurricanes, rather than other biplane types. National pride and Mussolini's bluster led a force being sent to take part in the Battle of Britain. On 11th Nov. 1940 this Falco suffered a broken oil pipe and was forced to land on a beach in Suffolk. She was repaired, evaluated by the RAF as BT474, then allocated RAF maintenance serial 8468M and placed into storage before ending up on display at the RAF Museum during 1978.

About 1800 of these aircraft were built, the last of the biplane fighters. They were very strong and manouverable. Ex RAF BT474 and also allocated RAF maintenance serial 8468M (which many mistakenly think to be its cn).