Savoia-Marchetti S.56
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1920s |
| Headquarters | Italy |
The Savoia-Marchetti S.56 was an Italian single-engine biplane flying boat designed primarily for training and touring, developed by the firm Savoia-Marchetti.
Featuring wings of unequal length, with the upper wing extending beyond the lower,[1] the aircraft was constructed mainly from wood. It accommodated both instructor and pupil in separate side-by-side cockpits equipped with dual controls, while a third cockpit was positioned just behind them. The powerplant consisted of a 52 kW (70 hp) Anzani engine.
The S.56A variant incorporated a slightly increased wingspan and was powered by a 60 kW (80 hp) Anzani engine. It was adapted into an amphibian through the installation of manually retractable landing gear. At least twelve units were acquired by private individuals and flying clubs,[1] and the Regia Aeronautica operated four examples,[1] which varied in engine types, including options such as the 96 kW (115 hp) FIAT A.53, the 101 kW (135 hp) FIAT A.54, and various Walter Venus radial engines.
The S.56A gained popularity in the United States, leading to licensed production by the American Aeronautical Corporation (AAC) starting in 1929. These versions were powered by 67 kW (90 hp) Kinner K-5 radial engines, producing three two-seat models and over forty three-seat configurations.[1]
In 1930, the S.56B was introduced, featuring a more powerful 93 kW (125 hp) Kinner B-5 engine and an enclosed cockpit design. Additionally, one aircraft was modified into a single-seat version with increased fuel capacity, designated the S.56C, intended for an attempted global circumnavigation by American entrepreneur Smith Reynolds.[1]
The following year, in 1931, the Budd Company constructed an all-metal iteration of the S.56 known as the Budd BB-1 Pioneer.[2]
Operators
Military operators
Civilian and government operators
- New York City Police Department utilized six biplanes produced under license domestically by American Aeronautical Corporation[4]
Aircraft on display
- The aircraft registered as NC349N, manufactured under American license by American Aeronautical Corporation, served law enforcement during the Prohibition era to combat liquor smuggling[5] and is currently preserved at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island, New York.[6]
- A refurbished S.56 is exhibited inside the restored terminal building at Smith Reynolds Airport located in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
Specifications (S.56B)
See also
References
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Donald 1997, p.820.
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- ↑ Ronald L. Tarnstrom, Balkan Battles, Trogen Books, 1998, p. 357
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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Bibliography
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- Savoia-Marchetti aircraft
- 1920s Italian civil utility aircraft
- Flying boats
- Biplanes
- Amphibious aircraft
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- Aircraft first flown in 1924