Macchi M.70

Macchi

Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1920s
Headquarters	Italy

The Macchi M.70 was a lightweight Italian biplane developed during the late 1920s by the manufacturer Macchi.

Design and development

File:Macchi M.70 line drawings.JPG

Technical drawings published in Flight International magazine, 21 February 1929

This model featured two seats arranged in tandem within a single-bay biplane configuration. Typically, the pilot occupied the rear cockpit, although both positions were equipped with flight controls. The fuselage was constructed from wood and covered with plywood, exhibiting a rectangular cross-section. Its wings, equal in span and relatively thick in profile, were also wooden structures covered with fabric; only the lower wing incorporated ailerons. Steel tube interplane struts were reinforced using piano wire. The tail assembly consisted of steel framework with fabric covering; the rudder was balanced, whereas the ailerons and elevators lacked balancing.

The powerplant was typically a Blackburn Cirrus II or equivalent engine delivering between 56 and 60 kilowatts (75 to 80 horsepower), turning a two-bladed tractor propeller. The design included hinged wings that folded rearward alongside the fuselage. Additionally, the aircraft could be adapted from landplane to floatplane by removing its fixed wheeled landing gear—characterized by a V-shaped structure with a straight axle—and installing twin single-step floats attached via four struts.

Operational history

Among the 53 competitors in the 1930 Giro Aereo d'Italia ("Circuit of Italy") competition was an M.70 piloted by an Italian aviator named Agello. The race, which essentially traced a path around the Italian peninsula, took place over four segments on 25, 27, 29, and 31 August 1930. Instead of a simple timed contest, the Giro Aereo d'Italia employed a handicapping mechanism to establish staggered starting times for each stage. This system favored aircraft with attributes beneficial to general aviation, rather than purely focusing on racing speed, adjusting start times accordingly. Prior to the event, aircraft underwent evaluations where higher scores were awarded for superior climb rates, shorter takeoff distances, reduced landing rolls, and enhanced "touring qualities" such as foldable wings, pilot comfort, ease of handling during flight, and compatibility with safety measures like wearing parachutes. Conversely, penalties were applied for heavier weight and more powerful engines. The plane accumulating the most points commenced first in each stage, with subsequent aircraft starting later by one-minute increments per point deficit.

Agello’s M.70 was equipped with a 60 kW (80 hp) Colombo S.53 engine and distinguished itself by having one of the three shortest takeoff distances and the briefest landing run among all 53 entrants—just 50 meters (164 feet). Based on the overall scoring system, this performance secured the M.70 the ninth position on the starting grid, granting Agello an 11-minute handicap head start.

Operators

Template:Country data Kingdom of Italy

• Regia Marina
• Regia Aeronautica

Specifications

File:Macchi M.70 3-view Aero Digest June,1930.png

Three-view illustration of the Macchi M.70 from Aero Digest June 1930