Macchi M.7
| Macchi M.7 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Macchi M.7 fighter | |
| Role | single-seat fighter flying-boat |
| National origin | Italy |
| Manufacturer | Macchi |
| Designer | Alesandro Tonini |
| First flight | 1918 |
| Primary user | Italian Navy Aviation |
| Number built | 100+ |
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The Macchi M.7 was an Italian single-seat fighter flying boat designed by Alesandro Tonini and built by Macchi. A modified version of the M.7, the M.7bis won the Schneider Trophy in 1921.
Development
The M.7 was similar to the earlier M.5 but had a modified hull and was powered by an Isotta Fraschini V.6 engine. Due to the end of World War I, only 17 aircraft were delivered to the Italian Navy. In 1919, two each were sold to Argentina and Sweden, and in 1921, Brazil bought three.
In 1920, Tonini designed the M.7bis a racing version of the M.7 for the Schneider Trophy. The M.7bis had a lighter structure and reduced-span wings. Five M.7s entered the 1921 competition at Venice, which was won by Giovanni di Briganti flying the M.7bis. At the 1922 competition at Naples, the M.7bis came in fourth.
In 1923, a revised variant of the M.7, the M.7ter appeared. This had a redesigned hull, revised wing configuration and a new tail unit. Three different versions of the M.7ter were built, including the M.7ter AR, which had folding wings to allow them to operate from the seaplane-carrier Giuseppe Miraglia. In 1924, six Italian naval squadrons were equipped with the M.7ter and over 100 were built. The aircraft was also used as late as 1940 by civilian flying schools.
Operators
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- Regia Marina
- Italian Naval Aviation
Specifications (M.7ter)
Data from [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 8.09 m (26 ft 6½ in)
- Wingspan: 9.95 m (32 ft 7¾ in)
- Height: 2.97 m (9 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 23.50 m2 (252.96 ft2)
- Empty weight: 805 kg (1,775 lb)
- Gross weight: 1,098 kg (2,421 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Isotta Fraschini V.6 inline piston engine, 194 kW (260 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
- Endurance: 3 hours 0 min
- Service ceiling: 7,000 m (22,965 ft)
Armament
- 2 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine guns (fixed forward firing in bow)
See also
- Related lists
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macchi M.7. |
- ↑ Orbis 1985, page 2393
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.