SIAI S.58
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Aircraft |
Template:Single source Template:Infobox aircraft
The SIAI S.58, also known as the Savoia-Marchetti S.M.58, was an Italian prototype flying boat fighter developed and produced by SIAI during the 1920s.
S.58
In 1924, the Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy) issued a specification seeking a successor to its existing 'Macchi M.7ter' flying boat fighter. To challenge the Macchi M.26 for the production contract, SIAI created the S.58. This aircraft featured a wooden construction and was designed as a single-seat, single-bay biplane. Its hull was derived from the SIAI S.51, a racing flying boat that had competed in the 1922 Schneider Trophy. Power was provided by a Hispano-Suiza HS 42 V8 engine delivering 221 kilowatts (296 brake horsepower), mounted on struts above the hull, driving a pusher propeller configuration. The armament proposed by SIAI consisted of two fixed, forward-firing 7.7-millimeter (0.303-inch) Vickers machine guns positioned on either side of the cockpit along the hull.[1]
The S.58 first took to the air in early summer of 1924 and notably set a world altitude record for its class on 25 August 1924 by ascending to 5,831 meters (19,130 feet) while carrying a payload of 250 kilograms (551 pounds). Although three prototypes were constructed by SIAI, the Regia Marina chose to extend the operational life of its Macchi M.7ter fleet by upgrading their engines rather than investing in a new model. Nonetheless, at least one additional S.58 was produced and utilized by the Scuola di Alta Velocità (High Speed School) based at Desenzano.[2]
S.58bis
Subsequently, SIAI upgraded the initial S.58 prototype by installing a 313-kilowatt (420-horsepower) Fiat A.20 V12 powerplant, resulting in the aircraft being redesignated as the S.58bis. In 1927, the Regia Marina conducted another competition seeking a successor to the Macchi M.7ter, with SIAI submitting the S.58bis for consideration. The navy was sufficiently impressed to plan for an acquisition of 97 units; however, these intentions were abandoned when the Regia Marina, opting for cost-saving measures, decided to extend the operational life of the M.7ter by refitting it with a new engine, thereby preventing any production contract for the S.58bis.
S.58ter
The autumn of 1928 saw the maiden flight of the S.58ter, a refined version of the S.58bis, which also utilized the Fiat A.20 V12 engine. In 1929, the Regia Marina once again held a contest aimed at replacing the M.7ter, with SIAI entering the S.58ter. Despite its capabilities, the S.58ter was ultimately defeated by the Macchi M.41bis and did not secure a production order.
Operators
Specifications (S.58bis)
Template:Aircraft specs Performance Note:
- Climb to 3,000 m (9,842 ft): 7 minutes 40 seconds
See also
Notes
References
- 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.
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