Macchi M.C.94

M.C.94
The prototype M.C.94 Anfibio
Role Commercial flying boat
Manufacturer Macchi
Designer Mario Castoldi (1888–1968)
First flight 1935 [1]
Introduction 1936
Primary users Ala Littoria (Italy)
Corporación Sudamericana de Servicios Aéreos (Argentina)
Number built 12


The Macchi M.C.94 was a 1930s Italian commercial flying boat built by Macchi.

Development

The M.C.94 was designed by Mario Castoldi as a commercial passenger transport flying boat to replace the Ala Littoria airline's elderly CANT 10s. Constructed mainly of wood, it was a high-wing cantilever monoplane with a two-step hull and single fin and rudder. The prototype, which was an amphibian with a retractable wheeled undercarriage which swung forward into streamlined casings in the leading edges of the wings, was powered by two 574 kilowatts (770 hp) Wright SGR-1820-F Cyclone nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engines mounted above the wing, each driving a tractor propeller. It was followed by 11 production aircraft, which were all pure flying boats. From the seventh aircraft, 570 kilowatts (760 hp) Alfa Romeo 126 R.C.10 radial engines were fitted. The three-man crew was accommodated in a raised and enclosed cockpit and the main cabin could accommodate 12 passengers.

Ala Littoria purchased the prototype and first five production aircraft in 1936. The Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force) declined purchase of the final six production aircraft, which Ala Littoria then also bought.

Operational history

The M.C.94 entered service with Ala Littoria in 1936 on Adriatic routes, and a number were still in service during World War II. In 1939, Ala Italia sold three of its M.C.94s to its Argentinian partner, Corporación Sudamericana de Servicios Aéreos.

The prototype set a number of international world records for flying boats in 1937, including a new altitude record of 6,432 metres (21,102 ft) carrying a payload of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb), a speed record of 248.967 kilometres per hour (154.701 mph) over a 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) closed circuit, and a speed record of 257.138 kilometres per hour (159.778 mph) carrying a 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) payload over a 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) closed circuit.[2]

Variants

M.C.94 Anfibio
Prototype amphibian version with Wright engines.
M.C.94
The first five production aircraft built as pure flying boats with Wright engines.
M.C.94
The final six production aircraft, also built as flying boats with Alfa Romeo 126 R.C.10 engines.

Operators

 ARG
Corporación Sudamericana de Servicios Aéreos
A.L.F.A. (Aviación del Litoral Fluvial Argentino)
 Kingdom of Italy
Ala Littoria
Regia Aeronautica

Specifications (MC.94)

Data from Italian Civil & Military Aircraft 1930-1945[3] World Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft[2]

General characteristics

Performance

See also


Related lists

Notes

  1. ↑ Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 618.
  2. 1 2 Angelucci, Enzo (1984). World Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. London: Willow Books. p. 246. ISBN 0-00-218148-7.
  3. ↑ Thompson, Jonathan (1963). Italian Civil & Military Aircraft 1930-1945 (1st ed.). New York: Aero Publishers Inc. ISBN 0-8168-6500-0.

References

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