Macchi M.39 Schneider Trophy Winner
HISTORY
- The 1926 Schneider Trophy races were held at Hampton Roads, Virginia, USA. The Americans had won the previous two races, and a U.S. victory that year would retire the trophy. The pressure was on for the aircraft de- signers in the competing countries to develop an aiplane that could beat the Americans
- In Italy, Mario Castoldi of the Macchi Aircraft Company began to layout a design that would become the M-39. It featured an extremely powerful 12-cylinder engine mated to a very streamlined airframe. The design would influence the future not only of Italian designs, but British as well.
- The aircraft was of all-wood construction with plywood covering. The cowling was aluminum sheeting, and the float struts were also metallic. Like many of its contemporaries, the airplane incorporated radiators into the airfoil surfaces.
- Three of these aircraft were built for the 1926 race, and flown by Mario De Bernardi, Arturo Ferrarin, and Adriano Bacula. The race was won by De Bernardi at an average speed of 246.5 mph. Bacula finished in third place, with an average speed of more than 210 mph.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Status: Replica |
| Manufacturer: Aeronautica Macchi |
| Year: Based on 1926 aircraft |
| Model: M-39 |
Registration Number:
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| Serial Number: |
| Crew: 1 |
| Max T/O Weight: 3,472 lb. |
| Span: 30 ft. 5 in. |
| Length: 25 ft. 6 in. |
| Height: 10 ft. 0 in. |
| Maximum Speed: 259 mph |
| Cruise Speed: N/A |
Rate of Climb: N/A
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| Power Plant: 1 × Fiat AS.2 12-cylinder liquid-cooled engine, 880 hp. |
| Range: N/A |
| Service Ceiling: N/A |
| Armament: None |
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