Macchi M.52
| Macchi M.52 | |
|---|---|
|
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| Type: | Seaplane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1927 |
| Number of pieces: |
4th |
The Macchi M.52 is a floatplane from the Italian aircraft manufacturer Macchi .
history
The M.52 was designed by Mario Castoldi for participation in the Schneider Trophy - a competition especially for float planes and flying boats . Three copies were built, the first of which made its maiden flight in August 1927. They had a wingspan of 8.98 m at 7.14 m in length. A 12-cylinder Fiat AS.3 engine with 1,000 hp (735.5 kW ) served as the drive . The competition took place the following month and was overshadowed by engine problems. Two machines were therefore eliminated from the race and captain Federico Guazetti had to retire with the last M.52 in the final round. However, Mario de Bernardi managed to break a world record of 479.29 km / h on a 3000 m course on November 4, 1927 with an M.52.
Due to the failure in the competition, the type was further developed into the M.52R (also: M.52bis ) with a 7.85 m reduced wingspan and a starting mass reduced to 1480 kg, with which de Bernardi in turn set the speed record on March 30, 1928 at 512.776 km / h could increase. In the 1929 race, this type and driver Tommaso Dal Mólin took second place with an average speed of 457.38 km / h. It was also powered by a Fiat AS.3
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Peter Alles-Fernandez (Ed.): Aircraft from A to Z. Volume 3. Bernard & Graefe, Koblenz 1989, ISBN 3-7637-5906-9 , p. 69.
- ^ A Concise History of Air Racing
- ^ The Aeronautical Journal. Vol. 76, 1972, ISSN 0001-9240 .