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 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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