Savoia-Marchetti SM.91
| Savoia-Marchetti SM.91 | |
|---|---|
| Savoia-Marchetti SM.91 | |
| Type: | Fighter bomber |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
March 11, 1942 |
| Number of pieces: |
1 prototype |
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.91 was a fighter-bomber made by the Italian manufacturer Savoia-Marchetti in the 1940s. Only a prototype was built as the machine showed no advantages over other models already in use, such as the Messerschmitt Me 410 .
history
The Italian Air Force Aeronautica Militare wrote out a long-range escort fighter and fighter-bomber in 1941. Savoia-Marchetti took part in this tender with the "Infraredem 91" project, which became known as Savoia-Marchetti SM.91. The SM.91 was a twin-engine fighter-bomber, of which a prototype was made in 1943.
The first test flight took place on March 10, 1943, the test pilot was Aldo Moggi. He was basically satisfied with the performance of the machine, but found an insufficient climb performance, which would have a negative effect in air combat. The test flights in Italy lasted until September 1943. After that, the prototype was transferred to Germany for further tests, for which German national emblems were attached. The prototype was destroyed in a US Air Force bombing raid on December 27, 1944. The Savoia-Marchetti SM.91 proved itself to all existing aircraft of the German Wehrmacht, such as B. the Me 410, as equivalent or inferior, so that one waived series production.
construction
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.91 was an all-metal - mid-wing with retractable landing gear. The design consisted of a fuselage nacelle and two tail girders, similar to the design chosen for the Lockheed P-38 .
drive
The drive of the machine consisted of two liquid-cooled 12-cylinder V-engines Daimler-Benz DB-605A-1 , which were manufactured under license from Alfa Romeo under the designation "Alfa Romeo RA-RC 58.1050 Tifon". The 2 × 1475 HP maximum power gave the machine a high level of efficiency in aerial combat. At 400 km / h cruising speed at an altitude of 3000 m, the engines developed a continuous output of 2 × 1175 hp.
Armament
The prototype was armed with five MG 151/20 cannons: three of them in the nacelle and one in each wing. The payload of the SM.91 was normally limited to 500 kg, but could be increased to 1000 kg. This allowed four 100 kg, four 160 kg or two 250 kg bombs to be carried. In Germany the machine was tested with two 500-kg bombs or two to four 250-kg bombs. The machine was rarely flown with a bomb load of more than 500 kg. The crew of the SM.91 consisted of two men. Since there is no reference to a rear gunner or a rear gunner in the description, it remains unclear whether the second man was a bomb gunner or a rear gunner.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 2 |
| length | 13.25 m |
| span | 19.70 m |
| height | 3.85 m |
| Wing area | 41.90 m² |
| Propeller surface | 7.74 m² |
| Empty mass | 6410 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 8920 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 9200 kg |
| drive | 2 × Alfa Romeo RA-RC 58.1050 Tifon with 1,475 PS (1,085 kW) |
| Top speed | 582 km / h at an altitude of 4000 m |
| Cruising speed | 400 km / h at an altitude of 3000 m |
| Service ceiling | 11,000 m |
| Climb performance | 12 m / s |
| Range (max.) | 1190 km (1550 km) |
| Armament | five MG 151/20 cannons, up to a maximum of 1000 kg bombs |
literature
- Giovanni Massimello: Araldica della Regia Aeronautica, Volume primo. (I)
- AEREI Italiani-Scheda Tecnica. Savoia Marchetti SM 91.
