J.Davilla Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.2: Aircraft A-H (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 74)

Asteria No.2

  The Asteria, biplane (designed by ing. Francis Darbesio) was founded on the classical architecture of the French Farmans. Its realization had its beginning in 1909 at the Fabbrica Italians of Airplanes Asteria formed by Darbesio together with the ing. Goklgoni. The prototype of the Asteria was nearly ready in the spring of 1910 but only in September was it transported to Centocelle where it made its first flights piloted by a young mechanica, Emilio Pensuti. After initial testings and an accident the Asteria no.1 was returned to Turin to be replaced in the March 1911 by the Asteria no.2. This version, thanks to several changes based on their experience with no.1, had an improved performance and was piloted from Cavagliu by Joseph Rossi, who conducted numerous flights. Nos. 2, 3 and 4 were all clearly influenced by the Farmans. They were pusher biplanes without front elevators.
  No. 3 saw active service in Libya. The MB 2-seat monoplane (May 1913) was the last aircraft built by company.
  Darbesio in the autumn 1911 opened a school of flight at Mirafrori. At this time a third biplane,was acquired by the Italian Government and sent to Bengasi for operations against Turkey. With tenente Lampugnani piloting, the biplane effected the first military reconnaissance by an Italian-built airplane in war time.


Asteria No. 2 single-seat reconnaissance aircraft with one 50-hp Gnome engine
  Wingspan 13.50 m; Length 10.00 m; Surface area 40.00 sq m Empty weight 500 kgs
  Maximum Speed: 90 km/h
  One built

Jane's All The World Aircraft 1913

ASTERIA. Fabbr. Ital. Aeroplani ing. Darbesio e. C., via Salbertrand, 12, Torino (Turin).
School: MIRAFMORI.[*] Capacity: small.

   1912-13. 1912-13.
   Monoplane. Biplane.

Length..............feet(m.) 21-3/4 (6.50) 29-1/2 (9)
Span................feet(m.) 26-1/2 (8.10) 44 (13.50)
Span................feet(m.) ... 24-1/2 (7.50)
Area..........sq. feet(m^2.) 162 (15) 431 (40)
Weight,.machine...lbs.(kgs.) 530 (240) 110 (500)
Weight, useful....lbs.(kgs.) ... ...
Motor...................h.p. 50 Gnome 70 Renault
Speed, max.......m.p.h.(km.) ... ...
Speed, min.......m.p.h.(km.) ... ...
Endurance...............hrs. ... ...
Number built during 1912.... ... ...