Savoia-Marchetti S.56

Last updated
S.56
Savoia-Marchetti S.56.jpg
Role Biplane flying boat
National origin Italy
Manufacturer Savoia-Marchetti
Designer Alessandro Marchetti
First flight1924
Introduction1927 [1]
Primary users United States Army Air Corps
Regia Aeronautica
New York City Police Department
Number built70 circa
Variants Budd BB-1 Pioneer
The Budd BB-1 Pioneer in front of the Franklin Institute. 2008 09 07 - Philadelphia - Budd BB-1 Pioneer 01.JPG
The Budd BB-1 Pioneer in front of the Franklin Institute.

The Savoia-Marchetti S.56 was an Italian single-engine biplane flying boat trainer and tourer, built by Savoia-Marchetti.

Contents

Of unequal span, the upper longer than the lower, [2] of wooden construction. Instructor and student sat side by side in separate cockpits, with dual controls; a third cockpit was located just aft that. It used a 52 kW (70 hp) Anzani.

The S.56A had a slightly longer span and 60 kW (80 hp) Anzani, and was turned into an amphibian by addition of manually retractable landing gear. Private owners and flying clubs purchased at least 12, [2] and Regia Aeronautica operated four [2] (differing in engine specification, including 96 kW {115 hp} FIAT A.53, 101 kW {135 hp} FIAT A.54, and Walter Venus radial engines, among others).

The S.56A proved popular in the U.S., and the American Aeronautical Corporation (AAC) set up licence production in 1929, relying on the 67 kW (90 hp) Kinner K5 radials for power for three two-place aircraft and over 40 three-seaters. [2]

This was followed in 1930 by the S.56B, powered by the 93 kW (125 hp) Kinner B-5, with an enclosed cockpit. Another was converted to a single-seater and given additional fuel tanks, as the S.56C, for an attempted round-the-world flight by American businessman Smith Reynolds. [2]

In 1931, the Budd Company built an all-metal S.56 as the Budd BB-1 Pioneer. [3]

Operators

AAC S-56A photo from L'Aerophile January 1932 AAC S-56A L'Aerophile January 1932.jpg
AAC S-56A photo from L'Aerophile January 1932
Savoia-Marchetti S.56 in the Cradle of Aviation Museum. This is one of two surviving planes. Savoia Marchetti S.56.JPG
Savoia-Marchetti S.56 in the Cradle of Aviation Museum. This is one of two surviving planes.

Military operators

Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania

Civilian and government operators

Flag of the United States.svg  United States

Aircraft on display

Specifications (S.56B)

Savoia Marchetti S-56 3-view drawing from Aero Digest June 1929 Savoia Marchetti S-56 3-view Aero Digest June 1929.png
Savoia Marchetti S-56 3-view drawing from Aero Digest June 1929

Data from Encyclopedia of World Aircraft [2]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related lists

Related Research Articles

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References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Boroli 1978, p.250.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Donald 1997, p.820.
  3. Eckland, K. O. (2 May 2009). "American Airplanes Pa - Pi" . Retrieved 21 Feb 2022.
  4. Ronald L. Tarnstrom, Balkan Battles, Trogen Books, 1998, p. 357
  5. Flypast March 2010 p.63
  6. "A 1929 SAVOIA MARCHETTI S-56". Bonhams. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  7. "Savoia Marchetti S.56C". Carolinas Aviation Museum.

Bibliography

This page contains material originally created for Savoia-Marchetti S.56