SIAI S.8
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| SIAI S.8 | |
|---|---|
| Type | reconnaissance flying-boat |
| Manufacturer | SIAI |
| Designed by | Raffaele Conflenti |
| Maiden flight | 1917 |
| Primary user | Italian Navy |
| Number built | 214 |
The SIAI S.8 was an Italian 1910s two-seat reconnaissance flying-boat.
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[edit] Design and development
The Societa Idrovolanti Alta Italia (SIAI) was formed in 1915 initially to licence build French flying-boats. The company employed Rafaele Conflenti as Chief Designer and his first design was the SIAI S.8 a two-seat equal-span biplane flying boat first flown in 1917. The Italian Navy ordered 800 S.8s to be built by SIAI and sub-contractors. With the end of the war production was stopped when 172 aircraft had been delivered. Early aircraft were powered by an Isotta Fraschini V4B engine, later aircraft had the more powerful 220hp (164kW) Hispano-Suiza 44.
[edit] Operational history
The aircraft equipped five squadrons of the Regia Marina. By 1920 only 63 aircraft survived mostly in storage.
[edit] Operators
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[edit] Specifications (S.8)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 32 ft 3½ in (9.84 m)
- Wingspan: 41 ft 10¾ in (12.77 m)
- Height: 10ft 10 in (3.30 m)
- Wing area: 495.16 ft² (46.00 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,984 lb (900 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,031 lb (1375 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Isotta-Fraschini V.4B inline piston, 180hp (134 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 89 mph (144 km/h)
- Range: 435 miles (700 km)
- Service ceiling 19,865 ft (6000 m)
Armament one 7.7mm (0.303in) machine gun in bow cockpit, up to 265lb (120kg) of bombs.
[edit] See also
Related lists
[edit] References
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
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