Savoia-Marchetti S.66

Savoia-Marchetti

Industry	Aerospace
Headquarters	Italy

The Savoia-Marchetti S.66 was an Italian twin-hulled flying boat from the 1930s, conceived and produced by Savoia-Marchetti as a larger iteration of the earlier Savoia-Marchetti S.55.

Development

File:Savoia-Marchetti S.66.jpg

Rear quarter view of Ala Littoria's Savoia-Marchetti S.66 with registration marking I-REDI.

Conceived to supersede the S.55P, the S.66 represented an upscaled adaptation of the S.55 model. It featured a twin-hull cantilever monoplane configuration, incorporating metal construction for both hulls and wings, complemented by wooden twin-booms and tail assembly. The crew of two operated from an enclosed cockpit positioned centrally within the wing section between the two hulls. Each hull accommodated seven passenger seats, two sleeping berths, and a lavatory facility. The prototype took to the air for the first time in 1931, powered by three Fiat A.22 R engines mounted on struts above the wing. Subsequently, 23 production units were manufactured, equipped with three Fiat A.24R engines delivering 559 kW (750 hp) each, and the original sleeping couches were replaced with an additional two to four seats per hull.

Operators

Before World War II

Template:Country data Kingdom of Italy

• Ala Littoria
• Società Aerea Mediterranea

During World War II

Template:Country data Kingdom of Italy

• The Regia Aeronautica utilized S.66 aircraft primarily for search and rescue missions

Specifications (S.66)

File:Savoia Marchetti S.66 3-view L'Aerophile October 1932.jpg

Three-view illustration of the Savoia Marchetti S.66 from L'Aerophile, October 1932

See also

• List of flying boats and floatplanes