Savoia-Marchetti S.83

The Savoia-Marchetti S.83 was an Italian civil airliner of the 1930s. It was a civilian version of the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bomber.

It was a monoplane, with rectractable undercarriage, and a slim fuselage. Though the cabin was provided with heaters, oxygen provision and sound insulation it was only large enough for the 4 crew and four to 10 passengers. The construction was of mixed materials in the typical Savoia-Marchetti style of the time: steel tubes for the fuselage, wood for the wings, and the outer skin made up of wood, fabric or metal. The wings had slats. The powerplant was three AR.126 engines giving a total of about 2,300 hp.

The maximum range stated was 4,800 km. The maximum speed was slightly better than the bomber 444 km/h at 4,000 m due to the absence of the gondola and hump machine gun positions.

First flying on 19 November 1937, it entered into production for LATI, SABENA and other companies, but it had less success compared to the more economic and capable 18 seater Savoia-Marchetti S.73 even if had much improved performance. As a result only 23 were built in two main series.

ervice

When war broke out, the Italian aircraft were impressed into the "Regia Aeronautica," and used in transport units.

One S.83 was used near the end of the war to flee Italy. Spain had forbidden aircraft both military and civilian of the Axis powers from landing there so S.83 was painted with Croatian insignia and purportedly owned by a Croatian citizen. Carrying 5,000 litres of fuel (50% more than standard) and 14 men and women including the parents of Claretta Petacci, Mussolini’s mistress), the aircraft took off at 4:30 on 23 April 1945 from Milan. It landed at Barcelona just 3 hours later. [cite web |url= http://www.ilduce.net/specialeclarettaspia.htm |title=Il Duce: Benito Mussolini |accessdate=2008-01-14|language=Italian |format= |work=www.ilduce.net ] It was not until September that the crew and aircraft were repatriated.

Operators

Civil Operators

*
** SABENA - four aircraft (three delivered) [cite web |url= http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac5/ROW%20Europe/OO-AUC.html|title= OO-AUC|accessdate=2008-01-14 |format= |work=edcoatescollection ]
*
** Ala Littoria
** LATI
*
** LARES - three aircraft
** Prince Bibesco of Romania - one aircraft

Military Operators

*
** Regia Aeronautica

pecifications (S.83)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Donald 1997, p.824 ]
crew=4
capacity=10
length main= 16.20 m cite web |url= http://www.alatricolore.it/alatricolore/storici/s/savoiamarchetti/sm83.htm|title= SAVOIA-MARCHETTI SM.83|accessdate=2008-01-14 |language=Italian |format= |work= alatricolore.it]
length alt= 53 ft 1⅝ in
span main= 21.20 m
span alt= 69 ft 6¾ in
height main= 4.60 m
height alt= 15 ft 1 in
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main= 6,900 kg
empty weight alt= 15,200 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 11,500 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 25,353 lb
more general=
engine (prop)= Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34
type of prop= radial enginess
number of props=3
power main= 559 kW
power alt= 750 hp
power original=
max speed main= 444 km/h
max speed alt= 240 knots, 276 mph
cruise speed main= 400 km/h
cruise speed alt= 216 knots, 248 mph
cruise speed more = at 5,000 m
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 2,800 km
range alt= 1,500 NM, 1,740 mi
ceiling main= 7,000 m
ceiling alt= 2,100 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.146 kW/kg
power/mass alt= 0.089 hp/lb
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

References

*cite book|author=Donald, David (Editor)|title = The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft|year = 1997
publisher = Aerospace Publishing|pages=p.824|isbn = 1-85605-375-X