SIAI p.51
| SIAI p.51 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Racing flying boat |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1922 |
| Number of pieces: |
1 |
The SIAI S.51 was a racing flying boat made by the Italian manufacturer SIAI . SIAI developed the aircraft for participation in the Schneider Trophy in 1922.
history
The chief designer Alessandro Marchetti, who switched to SIAI in 1922, rejected plans to take part in the Schneider Trophy again with the S.25 due to insufficient prospects of success. For this he designed the S.51, a new, more modern racing flying boat. At first glance, the flying boat impressed with its clean aerodynamic design . The test pilot Alessandro Passaleva took part in the race on the Naples-Posillipo / Torre del Greco route , but the boat was damaged by strong engine vibrations, so that water ingress occurred. The machine reached an average speed of 220 km / h on the 370 km long route. The winner of the race, a Supermarine Sea Lion with a 450 hp engine, was only 4 km / h faster. During test flights, however, the S.51 set a new world record with 280.122 km / h. The planned participation in the 22nd Schneider Trophy could, however, be dispensed with, as the competition started with V12 engines with an output of 450 hp and more ( e.g. Curtiss D-12 ).
construction
In contrast to the previous models, the S.51 was only a one and a half decker flying boat with a wooden hull. As with its predecessors, the engine sat on a frame made of pipes above the fuselage. The S.51 had a single-seat open cockpit with a windshield. As with the predecessor machines SIAI S.8 to SIAI S.23 , the wooden wings were covered with fabric. The S.51 was for the planned participation in the Schneider Trophy with a Hispano-Suiza 42 with 300 HP engine and a two-blade pusher propeller .
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| drive | Hispano-Suiza-42 with 300 PS (221 kW) |
| Cruising speed | 235 km / h |
| crew | 1 |
literature
- Bignozzi / Gentili - Aeroplani SIAI 1915/1935 - Ed. Ed.AI
- G. Evangelisti - Gente dell'aria - Ed. Olimpia
