Macchi M.52

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The Macchi M.52 was an Italian racing seaplane designed and built by Macchi for the Schneider Trophy.

Design and development

The M.52 was designed following the success of the earlier Macchi M.39 in the 1926 Schneider Trophy. It retained the same design, a single-engined low-wing monoplane on twin floats. Slightly smaller than the M.39 it was powered by a 1000hp (746kW) Fiat AS.3 engine. Three M.52s were built but engine problems during the 1927 race held at Venice led to the aircraft being withdrawn with one aircraft failing on the last lap. Despite the lack of a win one of the aircraft piloted by Mario de Bernardi established a new world speed record of 479.290 km/h (297.818 mph) on 4 November 1927.

A further aircraft designated the M.52bis or M.52R was built, it had a reduced wing span (7.85m (25 ft 9 in)) and other streamling improvements including floats with a smaller frontal area. At Venice on 30 March 1928 this aircraft flown by Mario de Bernardi set a new world speed record of 512.776 km/h (318.625 mph).

During the 1929 Schneider Trophy race one of the later designed Macchi M.67s withdrew and the M.52R was entered and gained second place.

Operators

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pecifications (M.52)

aerospecs
ref= [Orbis 1985, page 2397]
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crew=1
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length m=7.14
length ft=23
length in=4¾
span m=8.98
span ft=29
span in=5½
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gross weight kg=1515
gross weight lb=3340
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eng1 number=1
eng1 type=IFiat AS.3 piston engine
eng1 kw= 746
eng1 hp= 1000
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ee also

aircontent
see also=
*Schneider Trophy
*Airspeed record
related=
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sequence=
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*List of seaplanes and flying boats

References

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*cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)|year= |publisher= Orbis Publishing|location= |issn=|pages=