Flight, December 1933

A NEW ITALIAN LIGHT AMPHIBIAN

   ALTHOUGH specialising in the construction of large machines, chiefly flying-boats, the Savoia Marchetti Company has had considerable success, both in Italy and America, with the small S.56 biplane amphibian. ДальшеMore>>> The company has now designed and built a small monoplane amphibian which incorporates several interesting features, especially in the undercarriage.
   The S.80, as the new machine is called, is a 2-3-seater monoplane with a cantilever wing of "semi-thick" section. The wing is of wooden construction, covered with fabric, and is divided into a number of watertight compartments in order that it may keep the aircraft afloat in an emergency when the hull has been damaged. The differential ailerons are of welded-steel tubes. Wood construction is used for the adjustable tailplane and fin, but the elevator and rudder are made of welded-steel tubes.
   The hull has a double-planked wooden bottom, using copper riveting. The main cockpit, which extends a small distance into the leading edge, is fitted with dual controls and sliding and adjustable seats. A third cockpit and luggage compartment is located in the trailing edge of the wing.
   The engine mounting is made from chrome molybdenum steel tubes covered with fairings of "duranalio" sheet protected against corrosion.
   An undercarriage with retractable wheels is fitted. This is of patented Savoia Marchetti design, and when the wheels are "up," offers very little resistance indeed. Each half consists essentially of a pivoted shock absorber leg which carries the wheel. The pivoting movement carries the wheel into a housing under the wing which is covered by a fairing above the wheel.
   A single "Colombo" S.63 six-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine giving a maximum of 150 h.p. is fitted. Performance figures of the S.80 with this power plant are given below.
   Wing span, 36 ft. (11 m.); length, 25 ft. 7 in. (7,80 m.); height, 8 ft. 6 in. (2,60 m.); wing area, 193.7 sq. ft. (18 m2.); weight empty, 1,543.5 lb. (700 kg.); useful load, normal, 661.5 lb. (300 kg.); useful load, maximum, 882 lb. (400 kg.); total weight, normal, 2,205 lb. (1,000 kg.); total weight, maximum, 2,425.5 lb. (1,100 kg.); wing loading, normal, 11.4 lb./sq. ft. (55.6 kg./m2.); wing loading, maximum, 12.5 lb./sq. ft. (61 kg./m2.); weight per h.p., normal, 17 lb. (7.7 kg.); weight per h.p., maximum, 18.6 lb. (8.46 kg.); maximum speed, 141 m.p.h. (227 km.p.h.); minimum speed, 64.7 m.p.h. (88 km.p.h.); climb to 3,281 ft. (1,000 m.), 4 min. 22 sec.; to 6,562 ft. (2,000 m.), 11 min. 36 sec.; to 9,843 ft. (3,000 m.), 20 min. 19 sec.; to 16,405 ft. (5,000 m.), 56 min. 48 sec.; service ceiling, 18,045.6 ft. (5,500 m.); take off from land, 16 sec.; take off from water, 24 sec.; range, with two people and 44 lb. (20 kg.) of luggage, at 124 m.p.h. (200 km.p.h.); with 661.5 lb. (300 kg.) useful load, 621.4 miles (1,000 km.) (5 hr.); with 882 lb. (400 kg.) useful load, 497 miles (800 km.) (4 hr.).

Flight, November 1934

THE FOURTEENTH PARIS AERO SHOW

THE EXHIBITS DESCRIBED

Marine Aircraft

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   The little twin-engined Savoia-Marchetti S.80 is similar to the machine which took part in the Egyptian meeting about a year ago, but it has now been fitted with two British Pobjoy "R" engines of 75 h.p. each, mounted to drive pusher airscrews. The machine carries a pilot and three passengers, and, as it is an amphibian, one would expect the power loading to be somewhat heavy, and the take-off a little slow. Split trailing edge flaps are fitted. The cruising speed is given as 175 km.p.h. (108.5 m.p.h.).