Savoia-Marchetti S.55

The Savoia-Marchetti S.55  first flew in August 1924. I was very surprised that over 240 were built as I have not seen much about this aircraft in the past. The final one was retired in 1945. Only one survives today in a museum in Brazil.

The twin hulls could accommodate cargo or up to 10 passengers. The cockpit was placed in the thick wing section between the two hulls. Odd as it was the S.55 set many records for the time and was a pioneering aircraft at flights across the Atlantic when it was a very risky adventure.

In 1933 Italian Air Marshall Italo Baldo organized a squadron of 24  S.55s to attend Chicago's Century of Progress taking just over 48 hours in V formation. Now that must of been a great sight and sound! The aircraft were use by Italy's Regia Aeronautica as long-range bomber and patrol aircraft up until WWII. S.55s also operated with Aeroflot and the Military of Brazil, Spain & Romania.

Variants
S.55-Prototypes and original production model delivered from 1927 to 1930, 90 built, including two prototypes.
S.55C-Civil variant delivered from 1925 to 1926, eight built.
S.55P-Improved civil variant with enlarged hull for 10 passengers and enclosed cockpits delivered from 1928 to 1932, 23 built.
S.55A-Military variant delivered with 418 kW (560 hp) Fiat A.22R engines, 16 built.
S.55M-Variant with some wood structures replaced by metal, seven built by Piaggio in 1930.
S.55 Scafo Allargato-Widened and deepened hull and enclosed cockpits, 16 built by Savoia-Marchetti and 16 built by CANT.
S.55 Scafo Allargatissimo-Variant with greatly enlarged hull, 20 built by Savoia-Marchetti, 16 built by Macchi and six built by CANT.
S.55X-Variant fitted with Isotta-Fraschini Asso 750 engines for North Atlantic formation flights, later armed and used as a reconnaissance-bomber. 25 built.

Specifications:  
 MODEL: S.55X
 CREW: 5-6
 ENGINES: 2 x Isotta-Fraschini "Asso 750R", 656kW
 WEIGHTS:
    Take-off weight 8260 kg /18210 lb
    Loaded weight 5750 kg /12677 lb
 DIMENSIONS:
    Wingspan 24.0 m/79 ft 9 in
    Length 16.75 m/55 ft 11 in
    Height 5.0 m/16 ft 5 in
    Wing area 93.0 m2/1001.04 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE:
    Max. speed 279 km/h./173 mph
    Cruise speed 233 km/h./145 mph
    Ceiling 5000 m 16400 ft
    Range w/max.fuel 4500 km/2796 miles
    Range w/max.payload 2000 km/1243 miles

 ARMAMENTS: 
    4 x 7.7mm machine-guns, 1 torpedo or 2000kg of bombs