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.

Operators

 Italy
 Republic of China

Specifications

Data from [1]

General characteristics

  • Length: 19.95 m (65 ft 5.5 in)
  • Wingspan: 29.68 m (97 ft 4.5 in)
  • Height: 5.5 m (18 ft 0.5 in)
  • Wing area: 118.50 m2 (1,275.57 sq ft)
  • 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, 159 kn)
  • Range: 2,000 km (1,243 mi, 1,080 nmi)
  • 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

  1. ^ 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.
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