- Yes
- Maybe
- No
History.
At the beginning of the 1930s, the engineer Marchetti began to independently develop the project for a heavy bomber with which to equip the departments of the Regia Aeronautica. The new project was called Savoia-Marchetti S.72. The aircraft resembled its Italian relatives in development in those years: high single-wing, three-engined aircraft and a powerful and vast defensive armament. The prototype of the vievolo, registered with the license plate MM.219, was completed in 1932, but made its first flight only in 1934. During the flights the aircraft broke some world records, but despite this the vehicle did not arouse any interest as a bomber . To prevent the alley from being unused, the plane was demilitarized and used as a transport plane by Benito Mussolini, who used it for a visit to the African colonies before equipping the plane with a civil registration. The plane was then given as a gift in 1935 to the Chinese government, which used it as a private plane for General Chiang Kai-shek, who subsequently placed a large order for other planes of that type (an order that was never completely finished).
Armaments and propulsion.
The aircraft was defended by a total of 6 machine guns placed in 4 different positions, of which two twin turrets (one dorsal and one ventral). The use of a 20 mm cannon was also envisaged, however from the photographic evidence only a dorsal turret with a single Breda-SAFAT machine gun in 7.7 mm caliber is visible. The plane was obviously equipped with launch armament equal to 1,000 kg of bombs.
As an engine, the aircraft was powered by three Bristol Pegasus engines produced under license by the Alfa Romeo company. Each engine could develop 550 hp of maximum power, and the aircraft could thus reach a maximum speed of 295 km/h.
Specifications.
Spoiler
Crew: 7
Wingspan: 29.86 m
Length: 19.95 m
Height: 5.5m
Wing surface: 118.5 m2
Maximum weight: 12,800 kg
Engines: 3x Alfa Romeo-Bristol Pegasus (550 hp each)
Maximum speed: 295 km/h
Autonomy: 2,000 km
Tangency: 8,000 m
Mounted armament: 1-2x Breda-SAFAT 7.7 mm and up to 1.000 kg of bombs
Pictures and drawnings.
Sources.