Savoia-Marchetti S.83

Picture - I-ANDE markings Ala Littoria's S.83

Role: Airliner and transport aircraft
National origin: Italy
Manufacturer: Savoia-Marchetti
Designed by: Alessandro Marchetti
First flight: 19 Nov 1937
Introduction: 1938
Retired: 1945
Primary users: LATI Regia Aeronautica SABENA
Number built: 23
Developed from: Savoia-Marchetti SM.79

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The Savoia-Marchetti S.83 was an Italian civil airliner of the 1930s. It was a civilian version of the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bomber.

Design and development

It was a monoplane, with retractable undercarriage, and a slim fuselage. Though the cabin was provided with heaters, oxygen provision and sound insulation it was only large enough for the 4 crew and four to 10 passengers. The construction was of mixed materials in the typical Savoia-Marchetti style of the time: steel tubes for the fuselage, wood for the wings, and the outer skin made up of wood, fabric or metal. The wings had slats. The powerplant was three AR.126 engines giving a total of about 2,300 hp.

The maximum range stated was 4,800 km. The maximum speed was slightly better than the bomber 444 km/h at 4,000 m due to the absence of the gondola and hump machine gun positions.

First flying on 19 November 1937, it entered into production for LATI, SABENA and other companies, but it had less success compared to the more economic and capable 18 seater Savoia-Marchetti S.73 even if had much improved performance. As a result only 23 were built in two main series.

Service

When war broke out, the Italian aircraft were impressed into the Regia Aeronautica, and used in transport units.

One S.83 was used near the end of the war to flee Italy. Spain had forbidden aircraft both military and civilian of the Axis powers from landing there so S.83 was painted with Croatian insignia and purportedly owned by a Croatian citizen. Carrying 5,000 litres of fuel (50% more than standard) and 14 men and women including the parents of Claretta Petacci, Benito Mussoliniā€™s mistress), the aircraft took off at 4:30 on 23 April 1945 from Milan. It landed at Barcelona just three hours later. It was not until September that the crew and aircraft were repatriated.

Operators

Civil operators

Belgium

SABENA - four aircraft (three delivered)

Italy

Ala Littoria
LATI

Romania

LARES - three aircraft
Prince Bibesco of Romania - one aircraft

Military operators

Belgium

Belgian Air Force

Italy

Regia Aeronautica

Specifications (S.83)

Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft

General characteristics

Crew: 4
Capacity: 10
Length: 16.20 m (53 ft 1ā…¯ in)
Wingspan: 21.20 m (69 ft 6¾ in)
Height: 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in)
Empty weight: 6,900 kg (15,200 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 11,500 kg (25,353 lb)
Powerplant: 3x— Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34 radial enginess, 559 kW (750 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 444 km/h (240 knots, 276 mph)
Cruise speed: 400 km/h (216 knots, 248 mph) at 5,000 m
Range: 2,800 km (1,500 NM, 1,740 mi)
Service ceiling: 7,000 m (2,100 ft)
Power/mass: 0.146 kW/kg (0.089 hp/lb)

Andriola, Fabio "Il Duce: Benito Mussolini e la storia del Fascismo [Il Duce: Benito Mussolini and Fascism history]" (in Italian) il duce.net http://www.ilduce.net/specialeclarettaspia.htm. Retrieved 20 Nov 2009
Coates, Ed "OO-AUC Savoia-Marchetti S.M.83" Ed Coates' Civil Aircraft Photograph Collection edcoatescollection.com http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac5/ROW%20Europe/OO-AUC.html. Retrieved 20 Nov 2009
"SAVOIA-MARCHETTI SM.83" (in Italian) alatricolore.it http://www.alatricolore.it/alatricolore/storici/s/savoiamarchetti/sm83.htm. Retrieved 20 Nov 2009
Donald, David, ed. (1997) The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft London: Aerospace Publishing ISBN 1-85605-375-X

Savoia-Marchetti S.83 Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia