SIAI S.16

SIAI

Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1915 in Italy
Products	Aircraft, including the SIAI S.16 flying boat

File:SIAI S.16.jpg

SIAI S.16

File:SIAI S.16bis.jpg

SIAI S.16bis

The SIAI S.16 was an Italian flying boat initially designed for passenger transport, which later found extensive use as a military reconnaissance and bomber aircraft. It is regarded as one of the most accomplished flying boats of the 1920s.

Design and development

Following the earlier S.13 biplane flying boat, which accommodated five passengers and was SIAI’s first civil flying boat design, the S.16 featured a single Fiat A.12bis engine as its powerplant. Military adaptations included a forward cockpit for an observer-gunner and bomb racks installed beneath the wings for ordnance carriage. This military variant was exported to countries such as Brazil, the Soviet Union, Spain, and Turkey.

Operations

In 1925, Italian aviator Francesco de Pinedo (1890–1933), holding the rank of tenente colonnello (lieutenant colonel) in the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force), undertook a record-breaking journey using an SIAI S.16ter named Gennariello. His mission aimed to demonstrate the superiority of seaplanes over landplanes for extended flights, traveling from Rome to Australia and then to Tokyo.

Departing Rome on 21 April with his mechanic Ernesto Campanelli, their route included stops at Brindisi, Leros, Baghdad, Bushehr, and Chabar. They continued through Karachi, Bombay, Cocanada, and Calcutta in British India; proceeded to locations in Burma such as Akyab, Rangoon, Tavoy, and Mergui; then visited Phuket, Penang in British Malaya, and Singapore. Their journey extended through the Netherlands East Indies with stops in Batavia, Surabaya, Sumbawa, and Kupang before reaching Australia at locations including Broome, Carnarvon, Perth, Bunbury, Albany, Israelite Bay, and Adelaide, finally arriving in Melbourne on 10 June where they remained for 36 days.

On 16 July, they resumed their flight toward Sydney, spending three weeks there before continuing on 6 August through Queensland cities such as Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville, Innisfail, Cooktown, and Thursday Island. Their itinerary then took them back to the Netherlands East Indies visiting Merauke, Dobo, Amboina, and Menado; onward to the Philippines at Cebu, Atimonan, Manila, and Aparri; then to Tamsui on Formosa; followed by Shanghai in China; Mokpo in Korea; and finally Yamakawa and Kagoshima in Japan before arriving in Tokyo on 26 September.

After a three-week stay in Tokyo, Pinedo and Campanelli commenced their return trip to Rome on 17 October covering approximately 15,000 miles (24,000 km) over just 22 days—a remarkable pace for that era. Their return stops included Kagoshima; Shanghai; Hong Kong; Haiphong and Saigon in French Indochina; Bangkok; Rangoon; Calcutta, Benares, Delhi, and Karachi in British India; Bandar Abbas in Persia; Baghdad; Alexandretta in Turkey; and Taranto before reaching Rome on 7 November.

This extensive expedition was undertaken without specialized logistical support at any stopover points and involved two long flights across the Indian subcontinent—approximately 600 miles (970 km) and 1,200 miles (1,930 km)—in a non-amphibious flying boat. Only one engine replacement was necessary during the journey at Tokyo. To aid navigation through challenging harbors with unpredictable winds, they carried a jib sail and boat rudder but ultimately did not require their use.

Covering roughly 35,000 miles (56,000 km) over 80 legs within 202 days and accumulating about 370 hours of flight time, this venture was hailed by a 1925 edition of Flight magazine as "the most extensive aerial tour on record." The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale awarded Pinedo its highest honor—the FAI Gold Air Medal—marking the first time this accolade had been granted. Upon his return, the Regia Aeronautica promoted Pinedo to colonnello (colonel), while King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy bestowed upon him the noble title of marchese (marquis).

Variants

S.16

Passenger transport model equipped with a Fiat A.12bis inline six-cylinder engine.

S.16bis

Enhanced civilian version featuring a strengthened hull, expanded fuel tanks, and a larger propeller.

S.16bis M

Military adaptation of the S.16bis with a forward cockpit; Soviet-operated units (80 aircraft) were designated S-16bis by the USSR, with some produced under license in Spain.

S.16ter

Advanced military model introduced to the Italian Navy in 1924, powered by a Lorraine-Dietrich 12Db V-12 piston engine.

S.23

Streamlined trainer variant, with only one unit constructed.

Operators

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Template:BRA

• Brazilian Navy (15 aircraft)

Template:ESP

• Spanish Navy (26 aircraft, including 10 manufactured domestically)

Template:Country data Kingdom of Italy

• Regia Marina (approximately 103 units)

Template:LAT

• Latvian Navy (6 aircraft)

Template:TUR

• Turkish Air Force (12 units)

Template:USSR

• Soviet Navy (80 aircraft)