Savoia-Marchetti S.72
# Savoia-Marchetti S.72

The Savoia-Marchetti S.72 was an Italian three-engine transport monoplane designed and built by Savoia-Marchetti as an enlarged and strengthened version of the earlier S.71. The S.72 was a three-engine, high-wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear. Designed as a heavy bomber, the prototype was first flown in 1934 powered by three 410 kW (550 hp) Alfa Romeo licence-built Bristol Pegasus radial engines.

## Operational history

The Regia Aeronautica showed no interest in the aircraft as a heavy bomber and the prototype was used as a VIP transport. After being demonstrated in China in 1935 the prototype was handed over to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek as a gift. Six more aircraft were ordered by the Chinese and assembled in China. It is presumed that all the aircraft were destroyed in Japanese air raids in 1937.

## Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

* Length: 19.95 m (65 ft 5.5 in)
* Wingspan: 29.68 m (97 ft 4.5 in)
* Height: 5.5 m (18 ft 0.5 in)
* Wing area: 118.50 $m^2$ (1,275.57 sq ft)
* Empty weight: 6,800 kg (14,991 lb)
* Gross weight: 12,800 kg (28,219 lb)
* Powerplant: 3 × Alfa Romeo licence-built Bristol Pegasus engine , 410 kW (550 hp) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 295 km/h (183 mph, 159 kn)
* Range: 2,000 km (1,243 mi, 1,080 nmi)
* Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,245 ft)

Armament

* up to 6 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns
* 1 × 20 mm cannon
* 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of bombs
