Savoia-Marchetti S.72
| Savoia-Marchetti S.72 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Bomber/transport |
| National origin | Italy |
| Manufacturer | Savoia-Marchetti |
| First flight | 1934 |
| Primary users | China Regia Aeronautica |
| Number built | 7 |
|
| |
The Savoia-Marchetti S.72 was an Italian three-engine transport monoplane designed and built by Savoia-Marchetti as an enlarged and strengthened version of the earlier S.71. The S.72 was a three-engine, high-wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear. Designed as a heavy bomber, the prototype was first flown in 1934 powered by three 410 kW (550 hp) Alfa Romeo licence-built Bristol Pegasus radial engines.
Operational history
The Regia Aeronautica showed no interest in the aircraft as a heavy bomber and the prototype was used as a VIP transport. After being demonstrated in China in 1935 the prototype was handed over to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek as a gift. Six more aircraft were ordered by the Chinese and assembled in China. It is presumed that all the aircraft were destroyed in Japanese air raids in 1937.
Specifications
Data from [1]
General characteristics
- Length: 19.95 m (65 ft 5½ in)
- Wingspan: 29.68 m (97 ft 4½ in)
- Height: 5.5 m (18 ft 0½ in)
- Wing area: 118.50 m2 (1,275.57 ft2)
- Empty weight: 6,800 kg (14,991 lb)
- Gross weight: 12,800 kg (28,219 lb)
- Powerplant: 3 × Alfa Romeo licence-built Bristol Pegasus engine, 410 kW (550 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 295 km/h (183 mph)
- Range: 2,000 km (1,243 miles)
- Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,245 ft)
Armament
- up to 6 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns
- 1 × 20 mm cannon
- 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of bombs
See also
- Related lists
References
- ↑ Oribis 1985, page 2894
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Savoia-Marchetti S.72. |
- "The World's Race to Arms" Popular Mechanics, December 1935 various rare photos. note - statement that S.72 was sent to Ethiopia is untrue