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.

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

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 x— 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 x— 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns
1 x— 20 mm cannon
1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of bombs

Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.

"The World's Race to Arms" Popular Mechanics, December 1935 various rare photos. note - statement that S.72 was sent to Ethiopia is untrue

Savoia-Marchetti S.72 Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia