Savoia-Marchetti p.59
| Savoia-Marchetti p.59 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Flying boat |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1926 |
| Number of pieces: |
281 |
The Savoia-Marchetti S.59 was a single-engine, double-decker, multi-purpose flying boat that was commissioned by the Italian Air Force and was built in several versions from 1926.
history
In 1924, the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) opened a tender for a new flying boat that, as a multi-purpose aircraft, was to combine the functions of reconnaissance, fighter and bomber. Savoia-Marchetti took part in the tender with the Savoia-Marchetti S.59 and was awarded the contract.
The S.59 was a military flying boat based on the S.58, which was improved with the new developments of the S.57 and S.58. The Regia Aeronautica found a reliable and competent partner in Savoia-Marchetti, who had already proven with the Regia Aeronautica with the S.13. Based on this situation, the decision was made to order the S.59 in series without hesitation. After Savoia-Marchetti delivered the prototype for testing in 1925, however, it was found that the machine with the Rolls-Royce Eagle engine with 360 hp was underpowered. Savoia-Marchetti converted the series production immediately to the well-known Lorraine-Dietrich-12Db-V12 engine with 400 HP, but this was too weak for the military version. Nevertheless, forty machines with the Lorraine Dietrich 12Db V12 engine were delivered to the Regia Aeronautica in 1926. The Regia Aeronautica stopped the delivery in 1927 and requested a repair. Then Savoia-Marchetti converted to the Isotta Fraschini-Asso 500 engine with 510 hp. This version was to be called S.59bis, 82 of the S.59bis were delivered to the Regia Aeronautica by 1928. Due to the increased demand, the S.59bis was also produced under license by CANT and Macchi in quantities from 50 to 1930. The S.59bis was delivered to Italy, Argentina, Turkey, Paraguay and Romania, among others. A civil version of the S.59 with a closed cockpit and passenger compartment was called the S.59P version and was manufactured since 1927.
technology
The S.59 was a single-engine, double-decker fighter-bomber reconnaissance flying boat with a crew of two. Pilot and observer sat next to each other in the open cockpit and were only protected by a windshield. The canoe-shaped hull was made of wood. The wings were made of wood, covered with linen and attached to the fuselage with spars and steel wires. The prototype of the S.59 was powered by a Rolls-Royce Eagle engine with 360 hp and a two-bladed propeller. However, since this engine was too weak, a well-known Lorraine-Dietrich 12Db V12 engine with 400 hp was converted. Since this had also proven to be too weak, the series production was switched to the Isotta Fraschini-Asso 500 engine with 510 hp. The armament consisted of a 7.7 mm machine gun and 280 kg bomb load, which could be carried on the lower wing. The civil version of the S.59, the S.59P, was able to carry up to four passengers in the closed cockpit and passenger compartment in addition to the two pilots.
Technical specifications
| Parameter: | Data: |
|---|---|
| span | 15.5 m |
| length | 10.36 m |
| height | 3.5 m |
| Wing area | 60 m² |
| Empty mass | 1950 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 2950 kg |
| drive | Isotta Fraschini-Asso 500 engine with 510 HP |
| Cruising speed | 152 km / h |
| Top speed | 200 km / h |
| Range | approx. 900 km |
| crew | 2 military men, 2 pilots and 4 civilian passengers |
| Armament | a 7.7 mm MG (.303in) up to 280 kg bomb load |
Versions
| Version: | description | Manufactured |
|---|---|---|
| P.59 prototype | A prototype with a Rolls-Royce Eagle engine with 360 hp | 1 piece |
| P.59 | Lorraine-Dietrich 12Db V12 engine with 400 hp. Military version | 40 pieces |
| P.59bis | Isotta Fraschini-Asso 500 engine with 510 hp. Military version | 222 pieces |
| P.59P | Civil version with closed cabin for two crew members and four passengers | 18 pcs |
user
literature
- Giorgio Bignozzi; Roberto Gentilli: Aeroplani SIAI Marchetti: 1915-1935. Edizioni aeronautiche italiane, Firenze 1982, OCLC 799232922 .
- Roberto Gentilli: L'aviazione da caccia italiana 1918–1939. Edizioni Aeronautiche Italiane SRL, Firenze 1982-, OCLC 889229083 .
- Giorgio Evangelisti: Gente dell'aria. Ed. Olimpia, Firenze 1992-, OCLC 797717489 .
- A.Curami / G.Gambarini - Catalogo delle Matricole Militari della Regia Aeronautica 1923/1943
photos
- P.59bis on aviadejavu.ru
- P.59bis on avia-museum.narod.ru
