M.39
Preserved Macchi M.39
Role	Racing seaplane
Manufacturer	Aeronautica Macchi
Designed by	Mario Castoldi
Primary user	Regia Aeronautica

The Macchi M.39 was a racing seaplane designed and built by the Italian aircraft company Macchi Aeronautica in 1925-26. The aircraft, piloted by Mario Bernardi won the 1926 Schneider Trophy.

Contents 1 Design and development 2 Specifications (M.39) 3 See also 4 References 4.1 Notes 4.2 Bibliography

[edit] Design and development

The M.39 was designed by Mario Castoldi as a single-seat, twin-float racing aircraft. Powered by a Fiat AS.2 engine producing some 660 kW (880 hp), it reached a winning speed of 393 km/h (246 mph) at the Schneider Trophy contest held at Hampton Roads, Virginia.^[1]

According to Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation, Macchi was essentially ordered to produce a winning aircraft by Italy's fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Later Italian seaplanes (the M.52, M.52R, and M.67) failed to defeat rival entries (mostly from the United Kingdom). However, the final seaplane created by Macchi, the M.C.72 set a world speed record which would not be broken (due in part to the end of development of racing seaplanes).

[edit] Specifications (M.39)

Data from World Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft ^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 6.73 m (22 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 9.26 m (30 ft 4½ in)
• Height: 2.97 m (9 ft 9 in)
• Empty weight: 1,257 kg (2,772 lb)
• Loaded weight: 1,572 kg (3,465 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Fiat AS.2 liquid cooled V-12, 597 kW (800 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 439.44 km/h (237 kn, 272 mph)

[edit] See also

Related development

• Macchi M.52
  

Comparable aircraft

• Supermarine S.6
• Curtiss CR-3
  

Related lists

• List of seaplanes and flying boats
  

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] Bibliography

v • d • e Aircraft produced by Macchi L.1 · L.2 · M.3 · M.4 · M.5 · M.6 · M.7 · M.8 · M.9 · M.12 · M.14 · M.15 · M.16 · M.17 · M.18 · M.19 · M.20 · M.24 · M.26 · M.33 · M.39 · M.40 · M.41 · M.52 · M.53 · M.67 · M.70 · M.71 · M.C.72 · M.C.73 · M.C.77 · M.C.94 · M.C.99 · M.C.100 · M.C.200 · M.C.202 · M.C.205 · M.B.308 · M.B.320 · M.B.323

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