Macchi M.C.72

Last updated
M.C.72
Macchi M.C.72.jpg
Role Seaplane racing aircraft
Manufacturer Aeronautica Macchi
Designer Mario Castoldi
First flightJuly 1931
Retired23 October 1934 (last flight)
Primary user Kingdom of Italy
Number built5

The Macchi M.C. 72 is an experimental floatplane designed and built by the Italian aircraft company Macchi Aeronautica. The M.C. 72 held the world speed record for all aircraft for five years. In 1933 and 1934 it set world speed records for piston engine-powered seaplanes; the latter still stands.

Contents

Design and development

Preserved Macchi M.C.72 in Italy at the Museo storico dell'Aeronautica Militare di Vigna di Valle Macchi-Castoldi M.C.72 2009-06-06.jpg
Preserved Macchi M.C.72 in Italy at the Museo storico dell'Aeronautica Militare di Vigna di Valle

The Macchi M.C. 72 was one of a series of seaplanes developed by Macchi Aeronautica. In the 1920s, Macchi focused on speed and on winning the Schneider Trophy. In 1922 the company hired aircraft designer Mario Castoldi to design high-speed aircraft.

In 1926 the company won the trophy with the M.39, which attained a top speed of 396 km/h (246 mph). Further aircraft, the M.52, M.52R and the M.67, were designed and built but victory in the Schneider races kept eluding the Italians. Castoldi then designed the M.C. 72, a single-seater aircraft with two floats powered by a modified FIAT AS.6 supercharged V24 engine, generating around 1,900-2,300 kW (2,500-3,100 hp), [1] driving contra-rotating propellers.

The forward part of the M.C. 72's fuselage is constructed of metal; aft of the cockpit it is of wood, with a wood skin over a structure of bulkheads and longerons [2] attached to the front section with four bolts. [3] The nose enclosed an oil tank with its outside wall exposed to the airstream. The wing was all metal, with flat tubular water radiators faired into the wings. The twin floats had three radiators on the outer surfaces, the forward radiator for water and the centre and rear radiators for oil cooling. [3] The float struts also had water radiators and another radiator was fitted during hot conditions under the fuselage running from cockpit to tail. [3]

The M.C. 72 was built in 1931 for what turned out to be the final Schneider Trophy race, but due to engine problems was unable to compete.

Instead of halting development, Macchi continued work on the M.C. 72. Benito Mussolini personally took an interest in seeing development of the M.C. 72 continue and directed state funds to the company. [4]

Operational history

For two years, the M.C. 72 suffered from many mechanical defects, as well as the loss of two test pilots who died trying to coax world class speed out of the M.C. 72 (first Monti and then Bellini). After 35 flights the engines were overhauled in preparation for a record attempt. [3] The aircraft finally lived up to expectations when it set a new world speed record (over water) on 10 April 1933, with a speed of 682 km/h (424 mph). It was piloted by Warrant Officer Francesco Agello (the last qualified test pilot). Not satisfied, development continued as the aircraft's designers thought they could surpass 700 km/h (430 mph) with the M.C. 72. This was achieved on 23 October 1934, when Agello piloted the M.C. 72 at an average speed of 709.207 km/h (440.681 mph) [5] over three passes. This record remains (as of 2019) the highest speed ever attained by a piston-engined seaplane. After this success the M.C.72 was never flown again.

Speed record

The M.C. 72 held the world speed record for all aircraft for five years. For comparison, the record holder for a land-based aircraft was held (for a time) by the Hughes H-1 Racer with a top speed of only 566 km/h (352 mph). Then, in 1939, two German racing aircraft surpassed the M.C. 72. The first was a Heinkel prototype fighter which reached the speed of 746 km/h (464 mph). The second was the Messerschmitt Me 209, built by Messerschmitt solely for the purpose of setting a new world speed record, which it achieved with a speed of 756 km/h (470 mph) on April 26 – less than 5 months before the start of World War II. The current world speed record for a piston-engined aircraft is 531.53 mph (855.41 km/h) set by a modified P-51 Mustang named Voodoo over three km in 2017. However, the M.C. 72 record still stands as the world's fastest propeller-driven seaplane.

Surviving aircraft

One M.C. 72, the aircraft that took the world record, survives. It is on display at the Italian Air Force Museum, near Rome.

Specifications

Macchi-Castoldi M.C.72 Macchi MC.72.svg
Macchi-Castoldi M.C.72

Data fromFlying-boats and Seaplanes since 1910. [6]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schneider Trophy</span> Annual air racing event for seaplanes (1913–1931)

The Coupe d'Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider, also known as the Schneider Trophy, Schneider Prize or (incorrectly) the Schneider Cup is a trophy that was awarded first annually, and later biennially, to the winner of a race for seaplanes and flying boats. In 1931 Britain met the conditions to retain the Trophy permanently; it is held at the Science Museum at South Kensington, London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine S.6B</span> 1930s British racing seaplane

The Supermarine S.6B is a British racing seaplane developed by R.J. Mitchell for the Supermarine company to take part in the Schneider Trophy competition of 1931. The S.6B marked the culmination of Mitchell's quest to "perfect the design of the racing seaplane" and represented the cutting edge of aerodynamic technology for the era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Castoldi</span> Italian aircraft engineer and designer

Mario Castoldi was an Italian aircraft engineer and designer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francesco Agello</span> Italian test pilot

Francesco Agello was an Italian test pilot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macchi M.39</span> Type of aircraft

The Macchi M.39 was a racing seaplane designed and built by the Italian aircraft company Aeronautica Macchi in 1925–26. An M.39 piloted by Major Mario de Bernardi (1893–1959) won the 1926 Schneider Trophy, and the type also set world speed records that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine S.5</span> 1920s British racing seaplane

The Supermarine S.5 was a 1920s British single-engined single-seat racing seaplane built by Supermarine. Designed specifically for the Schneider Trophy competition, the S.5 was the progenitor of a line of racing aircraft that ultimately led to the Supermarine Spitfire fighter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtiss R3C</span> Type of aircraft

The Curtiss R3C is an American racing aircraft built in landplane and floatplane form. It was a single-seat biplane built by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtiss CR</span> Type of aircraft

The Curtiss CR was a racing aircraft designed for the United States Navy in 1921 by Curtiss. It was a conventional single-seater biplane with a monocoque fuselage and staggered single-bay wings of equal span braced with N-struts. Two essentially similar landplane versions were built as the CR-1 and CR-2, which were both eventually converted to seaplanes as the CR-3 in 1923 and CR-4 in 1924. A refined version was developed for the US Army Air Service under the designation R-6. These latter two aircraft featured refined aerodynamics included surface-mounted radiators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloster VI</span> Type of aircraft

The Gloster VI was a racing seaplane developed as a contestant for the 1929 Schneider Trophy by the Gloster Aircraft Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macchi M.52</span> Type of aircraft

The Macchi M.52 was an Italian racing seaplane designed and built by Macchi for the 1927 Schneider Trophy race. The M.52 and a later variant, the M.52bis or M.52R, both set world speed records for seaplanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navy-Wright NW</span> Type of aircraft

The Navy-Wright NW series, also called the Mystery Racer were racing aircraft built by Wright Aeronautical Corporation at the request of the US Navy. Although innovative, both prototype racers were lost before achieving their true potential.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloster IV</span> Type of aircraft

The Gloster IV was a British racing floatplane of the 1920s. A single-engined biplane, the Gloster IV was a development of the earlier Gloster III intended to compete in the 1927 Schneider Trophy race. One aircraft competed in the race, but retired part way through. The three aircraft built continued to be used as trainers by the High Speed Flight for several years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiat C.29</span> Italian racing seaplane

The Fiat C.29 was an Italian racing seaplane designed by Celestino Rosatelli and built in the late-1920s by Fiat Aviazione especially for the 1929 Schneider Trophy air race. Unused in the race, of the three aircraft built, two were destroyed in flying accidents while the third is on display in a museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savoia-Marchetti S.65</span> Type of aircraft

The Savoia-Marchetti S.65 was an Italian racing seaplane built for the 1929 Schneider Trophy race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piaggio P.7</span> Type of aircraft

The Piaggio P.7, also known as the Piaggio-Pegna P.c.7, was an Italian racing seaplane designed and built by Piaggio for the 1929 Schneider Trophy race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macchi M.33</span> Type of aircraft

The Macchi M.33 was an Italian racing flying boat which competed in the 1925 Schneider Trophy race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macchi M.67</span> Type of aircraft

The Macchi M.67, was an Italian racing seaplane designed by Mario Castoldi and built by Macchi for the 1929 Schneider Trophy race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macchi M.17</span> Type of aircraft

The Macchi M.17 was an Italian racing flying boat built by Macchi for the 1922 Schneider Trophy race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SIAI S.51</span> Type of aircraft

The SIAI S.51, Savoia Marchetti S.51 or Savoia S.51 was an Italian racing flying boat built by SIAI for the 1922 Schneider Trophy race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macchi M.70</span> Type of aircraft

The Macchi M.70, was an Italian light biplane of the late 1920s built by Macchi.

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Cowin 1999, p. 45.
  2. ↑ James 1981 p.242
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kinert 1969, p. 35.
  4. ↑ Taylor 1980, pp. 618, 796.
  5. ↑ Colin, 1999, p.45
  6. ↑ Munson 1971, p. 41.
  7. ↑ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Bibliography
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.