Savoia-Marchetti SM.83
| SM.83 | |
|---|---|
| Ala Littoria's Savoia-Marchetti SM.83 | |
| I-ANDE markings Ala Littoria's SM.83 | |
| Role | Airliner and transport aircraft |
| National origin | Italy |
| Manufacturer | Savoia-Marchetti |
| Designer | Alessandro Marchetti |
| First flight | 19 Nov 1937 |
| Introduction | 1938 |
| Retired | 1945 |
| Primary users | LATI Regia Aeronautica SABENA |
| Number built | 23 |
| Developed from | Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 |
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.83 was an Italian civil airliner of the 1930s. It was a civilian version of the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bomber.
Contents
Design and development
It was a monoplane, with retractable undercarriage, and a slim fuselage. Though the cabin was provided with heaters, oxygen provision and sound insulation it was only large enough for the 4 crew and four to 10 passengers. The construction was of mixed materials in the typical Savoia-Marchetti style of the time: steel tubes for the fuselage, wood for the wings, and the outer skin made up of wood, fabric or metal. The wings had slats. The powerplant was three AR.126 engines giving a total of about 2,300 hp.
The maximum range stated was 4,800 km. The maximum speed was slightly better than the bomber 444 km/h at 4,000 m due to the absence of the gondola and hump machine gun positions.
First flying on 19 November 1937,[1] it entered into production for LATI, SABENA and other companies, but it had less success compared to the more economic and capable 18 seater Savoia-Marchetti S.73 even if had much improved performance. As a result only 23 were built in two main series.
Service
When war broke out, the Italian aircraft were impressed into the Regia Aeronautica, and used in transport units.
One S.83 was used near the end of the war to flee Italy. Spain had forbidden aircraft both military and civilian of the Axis powers from landing there so S.83 was painted with Croatian insignia and purportedly owned by a Croatian citizen. Carrying 5,000 litres of fuel (50% more than standard) and 14 men and women including the parents of Claretta Petacci, Benito Mussolini’s mistress), the aircraft took off at 4:30 on 23 April 1945 from Milan. It landed at Barcelona just three hours later.[2] It was not until September that the crew and aircraft were repatriated.
Operators
Civil operators
- LARES - three aircraft
- Prince Bibesco of Romania - one aircraft
Military operators
Specifications (S.83)
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938[4] Italian Civil and Military aircraft 1930-1945[1][5][6]
General characteristics
- Crew: 3 or 4
- Capacity: 10 passengers
- Length: 16.2 m (53 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 21.2 m (69 ft 7 in)
- Height: 4.1 m (13 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 60 m2 (650 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 6,800 kg (14,991 lb)
- Gross weight: 10,300 kg (22,708 lb)
- Powerplant: 3 × Alfa Romeo 126 R.C.34 9-cyl air-cooled radial piston engines, 560 kW (750 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 444 km/h (276 mph; 240 kn) at 4,000 m (13,123 ft)
- Cruising speed: 400 km/h (249 mph; 216 kn) at 5,000 m (16,404 ft) with 70% power
- 380 km/h (236 mph) at 5,000 m (16,404 ft) with 60% power
- Range: 1,500 km (932 mi; 810 nmi)
- Endurance: 4 hours
- Service ceiling: 8,400 m (27,559 ft) (5,500 m (18,045 ft) with one engine stopped)
- Time to altitude:
- 3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 9 minutes
- 4,000 m (13,123 ft) in 13 minutes 30 seconds
- Wing loading: 169 kg/m2 (35 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.173 kW/kg (0.1 hp/lb)
See also
- Related lists
Notes
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Savoia-Marchetti SM.83. |
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