SIA 7

infobox Aircraft
name = S.I.A. FB
type = Reconnaissance-bomber
national origin =Italy
manufacturer = Societa Italiano Aviazione



caption = S.I.A. 7B - Signal Corps Photo 3433/United States National Archives
designer = Torretta and Carlo Maurilio Lerici
first flight =summer 1917
introduced =1917
retired =
status =
primary user = Italian Military Aviation Service
more users = American Expeditionary Force
number built = 572
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The S.I.A. 7B was a biplane reconnaissance-bomber built by the Societa Italiano Aviazione and served with the Italian Military Aviation Service and American Expeditionary Force in 1917.

Development

The engineers, Torretta and Carlo Maurilio Lerici of the Fiat company, designed the airplane as a "Jack of all trades", its speed, climbing power, and carrying capacity enabled it to be used as a bomber and racer.Taylor, 2001, Page 207] It was built in the workshops of the Societa Italiano Aviazione, a sister company to the famous motor-car firm F.I.A.T. of Turin.Taylor, 2001, Page 207] It used the standard Italian structural feature of a plywood-covered fuselage.Swanborough & Bowers, 1964, page 559.]

The SIA.7B was accepted for the Italian Air Force in November 1917 and entered mass production. There were however revealed its shortcomings, like low wing structure durability and poor view. Next variant SIA.7B2, developed in December 1917, had strengthened wings, slightly raised cockpits and stronger engine. Another variant, built in February 1918, was the SIA.9 with stronger 700 hp engine. There were built 501 SIA.7B, 71 SIA.7B2 and 62 SIA.9B [http://www.airwar.ru/enc/other1/sia7.html SIA.7(9) at Ugolok Neba] ru icon ] .

Operational history

The SIA.7 family aircraft were used for reconnaissance and bombing raids on Austro-Italian front. The SIA.7B2 entered service in March 1918. The SIA.9 managed to take part in Word War I service as well. Because of unsatisfactory durability, from July 1918 SIA.7B and 7В2 were moved to training units.

In 1917, the Italian government sent a pair of S.I.A. 7B-1 aircraft to the United States for evaluation under a plan to mass-produce established European designs. The 7B-1 was not put into production in the US but 19 were bought in Italy for use by A.E.F. units sent there.Swanborough & Bowers, 1964, page 559.]

Variants

;SIA 7B1: main reconnaissance-bomber variant;SIA 7B2: improved reconnaissance-bomber variant;SIA R2: scout-bomber built in 1918, span 12.32 m (40 ft 5 in), length 8.75 M (28 ft 8 in), height 3.3 m (120 ft 10 in), speed 180 km/h (111.8 mph)Taylor, 2001, Page 207] ;SIA 9B: two-seat reconnaissance-bomber 700 hp (522 kW) Fiat A.14 engineTaylor, 2001, Page 207]

Operators

;ITA
*Italian Military Aviation Service;flag|United States|1912
*American Expeditionary Forces: 19 7B-1 delivered to the American Expeditionary Force in February 1917, used at Foggia, ItalyFahey, 1946, page 12]

pecifications (7B)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop
ref="United States Military Aircraft Since 1909"Swanborough & Bowers, 1964, page 559.]
crew= 2
capacity=
length main= 9.07 m
length alt= 29 ft 9 in
span main= 13.3 m
span alt= 43 ft 8 in
height main=3.24 m
height alt=
area main= 42.74 m²
area alt= 460 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main=750 kg
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main= 1,566.7 kg
loaded weight alt= 3,454 lb [Loaded weight 1,100 kg according to Ugolok Neba]
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (jet)=
type of jet=
number of jets=
thrust main=
thrust alt=
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=
engine (prop)= Fiat A.12 bis
type of prop= 6 cylinder straight engine
number of props= 1
power main= 300 hp
power alt= 223.7 kW
power original=
max speed main= 200 km/h
max speed alt= 124 mph, 107.8 knots
cruise speed main= 178.6 km/h
cruise speed alt= 111 mph, 96.5 knots
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main=
range alt=4 m/s
ceiling main=6,750 m
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=244
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
*endurance: 6 hours
armament=
*One observer's 6.5 mm Fiat-Revelli machine gun (flexible)
*60 kg bombs
avionics=

References

* [http://www.airwar.ru/enc/other1/sia7.html SIA.7(9) at Ugolok Neba] ru icon
*"United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. Gordon Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.
*"Janes Fighting Aircraft of World War I" by Michael John Haddrick Taylor (Random House Group Ltd. 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA, 2001, ISBN 1-85170-347-0), 320 pp.
*"U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey (Ships and Aircraft, Fall Church VA) 1946, 64pp.

ee also

aircontent
related=

similar aircraft=

sequence=
lists=
* List of military aircraft of the United States