The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello, Italian for bat, was a three-engine monoplane that served the Regia Aeronautica as both a bomber and a transport. It was a militarised development of the company's SM.73 airliner, keeping its cantilever wings, three engines and fixed undercarriage, and it was built after Italo Balbo asked for a fast, efficient aircraft able to serve Italy's colonies in Africa. The prototype first flew from Vergiate on 8 February 1934 and the first production order followed in 1935. It saw action in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War and the Spanish Civil War, then proved too slow as a bomber in the Second World War and settled into second-line work as a transport, a role its wide fuselage suited. Most were withdrawn by the Italian armistice of 1943, and by 1950 all had retired from Italian service.
Facts
Comparison
Body StyleAircraft (no road body style) 1 Connections
Exemplifies
Source Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Wikipedia)
Of Make
Source Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Wikipedia)
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Manufactured By
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Wikipedia)Lead, makerQuote, Lead, maker
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Italian: bat) was the first three-engine bomber–transport aircraft serving in the Italian Regia Aeronautica.
Originated In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Source Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Wikipedia)Lead, nationalityQuote, Lead, nationality
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Italian: bat) was the first three-engine bomber–transport aircraft serving in the Italian Regia Aeronautica.
Sources
1. Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Wikipedia)
Design and development
the SM.81 prototype (MM.20099) first flew from Vergiate, near Varese, on 8 February 1934
Lead, maker
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Italian: bat) was the first three-engine bomber-transport aircraft serving in the Italian Regia Aeronautica.
Propulsion
Alfa Romeo 125 RC.35, 432-507 kW (580-680 hp). 192 built.
Operational history
Several examples survived the war and went on to serve with the Aeronautica Militare Italiana, but by 1950 these had all been retired.
Variants
Three-engine bomber, transport aircraft, 535 built.
Lead, nationality
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Italian: bat) was the first three-engine bomber-transport aircraft serving in the Italian Regia Aeronautica.
In Group: Bombers, Lead
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Italian: bat) was the first three-engine bomber-transport aircraft serving in the Italian Regia Aeronautica.
Exemplifies: Aviation, Lead
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Italian: bat) was the first three-engine bomber-transport aircraft serving in the Italian Regia Aeronautica.
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