Savoia-Pomilio SP.4

National origin: Italy
Manufacturer: AER
Designed by: Umberto Savoia and Ottorino Pomilio
First flight: 1917
Number built: ca. 150
Developed from: Savoia-Pomilio SP.1

The Savoia-Pomilio SP.4 was a reconnaissance and bomber aircraft built in Italy during the First World War. It was a further development of the family of designs that had started with the SP.1. Ultimately all of these took their basic configuration from the Farman MF.11: a biplane with twin tails and a fuselage nacelle that accommodated the crew and a pusher-mounted engine. However, the SP.4 differed both from its Farman antecedent and the previous Savoia-Pomilio designs by featuring twin engines mounted in the interplane gap in place of the single engine in the nacelle. Removing the engine from this position allowed a second machine gun to be placed there instead.

Apart from their intended role as a reconnaissance aircraft and bomber, some SP.4s were used to insert spies and saboteurs behind enemy lines. A further development designated SP.5 remained unbuilt by the end of the war.

Specifications

Data from "Savoja-Pomilio S.p.4"

General characteristics

Crew: Two, pilot and observer
Length: 10.70 m (35 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 19.80 m (65 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 78 m² (839 ft²)
Gross weight: 2,300 kg (5,060 lb)
Powerplant: 2 x— Isotta-Fraschini V.4B, 110 kW (150 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 150 km/h (94 mph)

Armament

2 x— machine guns

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing.
"Savoja-Pomilio S.p.4". Aerei Italiani. http://www.aerei-italiani.net/SchedeT/aereosp4.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.

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Source: WikiPedia