SIAI S.51
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Italy |
The SIAI S.51, also known as the Savoia Marchetti S.51 or simply Savoia S.51, was an Italian racing flying boat developed by SIAI specifically for participation in the 1922 Schneider Trophy competition.
Design and development
The S.51 was designed as a single-seat sesquiplane flying boat. Its propulsion came from a solitary 300 horsepower (220 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8F V8 engine, which was installed on two N-shaped struts positioned above the hull and beneath the upper wing. This engine drove a two-bladed propeller arranged in a pusher configuration. The interplane struts were set at an angle forming a V shape. Small stabilizing floats were attached to the lower wings via inclined struts, extending below and outward from the lower wing tips.
Subsequently, the hull design of the S.51 served as the basis for the hull of SIAI’s 1924 fighter flying boat, the SIAI S.58.
Operational history
In 1922, Italy entered the S.51 alongside two Macchi M.17 flying boats to contend against a British Supermarine Sea Lion II in the Schneider Trophy race held at Naples on 12 August.
Prior to the competition, during seaworthiness trials, the S.51 capsized but was promptly righted by its crew. Piloted by Alessandro Passaleva, it completed the race but finished in second place, trailing the Sea Lion by 2 minutes and 22 seconds. The contest involved 13 laps covering a total distance of approximately 370 km (230 mi), with the S.51 achieving an average speed of 229.57 km/h (142.65 mph).
Later that year, on 28 December 1922, Passaleva piloted the S.51 to establish a new world speed record for seaplanes at 280.155 km/h (174.080 mph).
Operators
Specifications
See also
Notes
References
- Schneider Trophy 6th Edition August 1922
- Society of Air Racing Historians: Schneider Cup Races
- ipmsairrace.org
- Green, William, and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Aircraft Built and Flown. New York: SMITHMARK Publishers, 1994. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8.
- Vašiček, Radko. "When Seaplanes Ruled the Sky." Aviation History, September 2002
External links
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