SIAI S.58

The SIAI S.58, also written Savoia-Marchetti S.M.58, was an Italian flying boat fighter prototype of the 1920s. In 1924 the Regia Marina asked for a replacement for its Macchi M.7ter, and SIAI answered with a wooden, single-seat, single-bay biplane whose hull was based on that of the S.51 racer and whose 221 kilowatt Hispano-Suiza HS 42 V8 drove a pusher propeller. It first flew in the early summer of 1924 and on 25 August 1924 set a world altitude record for its type, 5,831 metres with a 250 kilogram payload. The navy preferred to re-engine the Macchi instead. Later versions, the S.58bis with a Fiat A.20 V12 and the S.58ter, also lost contests, so no production order was ever placed.