Macchi M.7
| Macchi M.7 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Flying Boat |
| Manufacturer | Macchi |
| Introduction | late 1918 |
| Primary users |  Italy Sweden
|
| Number built | 17 [1] |
| Wingspan | 9.83 m (32 ft 3 in) [2]-9.96 m (32 ft 8 in)[3] |
| Engine | 250hp Isotta-Fraschini V-6B |
| Armament | 2×fixed Revelli? |
| Crew | 1 |
| Max Speed | 211 km/h (131 mph) [2][3] |
| Climb | 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 3:30[2] 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 7:30[2] 3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 10:18[2] |
| Ceiling | 5,000 m (16,400 ft)[3]-5,200 m (17,000 ft) [2] |
| Endurance | 4:00 [2] |
It may sound strange for a flying boat to compete with a fighter on speed, but that is exactly the case for the Macchi M.7, which was designed to match or exceed the Phönix D.I. The flying boat at least has the advantage of mounting larger engines without a redesign, and the M.7 used the 250hp Isotta-Fraschini V-6B. It was smaller than the excellent Macchi M.5 flying boat-fighter. Out of an order of two hundred, only seventeen had been delivered and only three became operational before the Armistice.
After the war three were sold to Sweden, and Italy continued increasing performance with larger engines, up to the 475hp Lorraine. [1]
For more information, see Wikipedia:Macchi M.7.
Timeline
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1960.
- Kenneth Munson, Fighters 1914-19, Attack and Training Aircraft. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976. ISBN 0713707607
- Heinz J. Nowarra, Bruce Robertson, and Peter G. Cooksley. Marine Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth, Herts, England: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1966. ISBN 0900435070