Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

The first prototype of a three-engine transport aircraft, designated SM79 Sparviero, took off at the end of 1934. The flight characteristics of the car turned out to be so high that a bomber / reconnaissance version was soon released, which became one of the best aircraft of this class during the Second World War .

Sparviero was made according to the low- profile design and had a mixed construction. All -metal fuselage ^{[ clarify ]} . Chassis - retractable, with tail wheel. The prototype, which had civil registration I-MAGO, was equipped with three 780-strong radial piston engines Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34 . The crew consisted of four or five people.

After testing, the aircraft was launched into the series under the designation SM79-I. In 1937, tests began torpedo on the basis of SM79-I. The aircraft, which had the ability to carry two 450-mm torpedoes, was equipped with engines Piaggio P.XI RC.40 and entered the series as the SM79-II.

Before the start of World War II, the SM79 set a number of world records for speed and capacity in its class, and also won victories in several air races. In particular, SM79C (I-BIMU), piloted by Colonel Attilo Bizeo and Lieutenant Bruno Mussolini (son of Benito Mussolini ), ranked third in the 1937 race on the Istres - Damascus - Paris route, showing an average speed of 343 km / h.

The first production version, SM79-I, was in service with the four air groups of the Italian Aviation Legion during the Spanish Civil War . The results demonstrated by these aircraft led to the purchase of 45 cars by Yugoslavia in 1938.

By the entry of Italy into World War II, about 575 aircraft of the SM79-I and SM79-II variants were in service with 14 Italian aviation regiments. The aircraft of these and subsequent modifications were deployed in all theaters where Italian troops fought. They also served in Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, France, Tunisia and Crete. SM79 caused great damage to shipping in the Mediterranean. In addition, the machines were used to support the troops, reconnaissance and transportation of goods. After the capitulation of Italy, a small amount of SM79 entered service with the so-called. Air Force of the South, who fought on the side of the Allies. The Italian Air Force continued to operate these aircraft until the early 1950s.

Savoia-Marchetti received orders for a twin-engine export version, called the SM79B. The aircraft of this model were in service with Brazil (3 cars), Iraq (4 cars) and Romania (24 cars). The latter most widely used bombers in combat operations, in particular on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union.

• SM79-I - the first serial version. It differed from the prototype of the new cabin and the ventral gondola.
• The SM79-II is a torpedo bomber with the possibility of hanging two 450-mm torpedoes equipped with a 1000-horsepower PD Piaggio P.XI RC.40 or a 1030-horsepower PD Fiat A.80 RC.41. Entered service in 1937.
• SM79-III - an improved version of the SM79-II with a modified composition of weapons. Entered service in 1943.
• SM79B is a twin-engine export version with a new, glazed bow. Equipped with different engines for different countries-buyers:
  • for Brazil: Alfa Romeo 128 RC.18 with 930 hp each
  • for Iraq: Fiat A.80 RC.41 with 1030 hp each
  • for Romania: Gnome-Rhone Mistral Major K14 with 1000 hp each.
• SM79C is a VIP version based on SM79-II with disassembled rifle points.
• SM79K is an option for Yugoslavia, the parameters are similar to SM79C.
• The SM79JR is an export version for Romania, similar to the SM79B, but with two 1120-strong Junkers Jumo 211 Da PD made in Germany.
• SM79T is a long-range version based on the SM79C with increased fuel capacity.

•   Italy
•   Romania
•   Brazil
•   Iraq
•   Yugoslavia

Data source: Technical Manual of the Ministry of Aviation C.A.289, 1940. ^[2]

Specifications

• Crew : 4-5 people
• Length : 16.2 m
• Wing Span: 21.184 m
• Height : 4.102 m
• Wing area: 61 m²
• Empty mass : 6950 kg
• Weight curb: 8630 kg
• Normal take-off weight: 11,180 kg
• Mass of payload: 3780 kg
• Fuel mass in internal tanks: 2550 kg
• Power point: 3 × radial Alfa Romeo 126 RC34
• Engine power: 3 × 750 hp at an altitude of 3353 m (3 × 551.6 kW)
• Air screw : three-bladed Savoia Marchetti

Flight performance

• Maximum speed:
  • at an altitude of 430 km / h at 4000 m
  • at the land: 359 km / h
• Cruising speed : 373 km / h at 6000 m
• Dumping speed: 129 km / h
• Practical range: 2000 km
• Ferrying range: 3300 km at an altitude of 5000 m at 340 km / h
• Practical ceiling : 6500 m
• Rate of climb : 5.9 m / s
• Climbing time: 4000 m in 13 minutes. 15 seconds
• Wing load: 183 kg / m² (calc.)
• Thrust : 74.7 W / kg (9.85 kg / hp)
• Takeoff run: 273 m
• Run length: 350 m

Armament

• Cannon:
  • 1 × 12.7 mm machine gun Breda-SAFAT with 350 rounds in the front of the cab
  • 1 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun with 500 rounds of ammunition behind the cab
  • 1 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun at the rear of the ventral gondola
  • 1 × 7.7 mm machine gun Lewis toggle in the back of the fuselage for defense from the sides
• Combat load: 1200 kg in bomb bay:
  • 2 × 500 kg bombs or
  • 5 × 250 kg bombs or
  • 12 × 100 kg bombs or
  • 2 × 450 mm torpedoes under the fuselage

• SM79 "Corner of the sky"
• Giorgio Apostolo Savoia Marchetti SM79 Aircraft profile 89. 1968