Savoia-Marchetti SM.81

The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello was a three-engine bomber-transport aircraft serving in the Italian Regia Aeronautica during World War II. Despite being too slow to remain competitive as a bomber it was one of the most flexible reliable and important aircraft of the Regia Aeronautica from 1935-1944 and adapted to second-line duties in performing a wide range of tasks.

A Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 during a bombing raid in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39).1
Enlarge pictureA Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 with FIAT CR.2
Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM-81 arrived to help the rebels and the Fiat CR-32 fighters began operating in the Córdoba front. In August Heinkel He-51 fighters were also deployed.3

Made by SIAI-Marchetti.

It is the successor of the Savoia-Marchetti S.73 .

Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 of the Aviación Nacional rebel Air Force bombing Spanish cities. FIAT CR.32 in the background Polikarpov I-16 Mosca of the Spanish Republican Air Force.4
Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 bombers and Fiat CR-42 fighters. In relative terms, these were some of the best aircraft available to either side at the beginning of the East African Campaign.5
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello was a three-engine bomber/transport aircraft serving in the Italian Regia Aeronautica during the was with Ethiopia, in Spanish Civil War and World ...6
More Users
Italian Air Force
Spanish Air Force
Jet Or Prop
prop
Height Alt
444.5
Predecessor
Savoia-Marchetti S.73
Length Alt
1780.54
Max Takeoff Weight Main
10505.0
Power Alt
670 hp
Range Main
2000
Loaded Weight Main
9300.0
Max Speed Alt
211 mph
Type Of Prop
radial engines
Introduced
1935
Loading Main
101
Power/mass Main
17640.0
Developed From
Savoia-Marchetti S.73
Height Main
4.3 m
Max Speed Main
320
Similar Aircraft
*Junkers Ju 52*Bristol Bombay
Max Takeoff Weight Alt
20500.0
Ceiling Main
7
000 m
Number Built
535
Crew
6
Retired
1950
Armament
462.0
Area Main
92.2 m²
Primary user
Regia Aeronautica
Span Alt
2400.3
Plane Or Copter?
plane
Engine(prop)
Piaggio P.X RC.15
Manufacturer
SIAI-Marchetti
First Flight
1934
Loaded Weight Alt
19000.0
More Performance
1236.0
Number Of Props
3
Empty Weight Alt
13900.0
Length Main
18.3 m
Span Main
24 m
Area Alt
1001.0
Range Alt
1
240 mi
Power Main
522.0
Related
*SM.79 Sparviero
Empty Weight Main
6800.0
Ceiling Alt
23000.0
Category
Italian bomber aircraft 1930-1939
Savoia-Marchetti aircraft
Trimotors
World War II Italian bombers

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