Airfix 04007 Savoia Marchetti SM79

The Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero is an Italian three-engine bomber and torpedo plane, in a mixed low wing design from the WWII period. The flight of the prototype took place in October 1934, and the entry into service took place in 1936. Three main versions of the aircraft were made in the course of production. The first is the SM.79 I model, a classic bomber powered by Alfa Romeo 125 RC.34 engines. The second is the SM.79-II, performing the tasks of a torpedo plane, with new engines - Alfa Romeo 126. The third version with the SM.79 C, a classic transport plane. In addition, a twin-engine version was also created, intended for export to Brazil, Iraq and Romania. The Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 was first used in combat during the Spanish Civil War, where it did very well with minimal losses of its own. In 1939-1943, aircraft of this type fought in the Mediterranean, attacking Allied convoys sailing from and to Malta, fighting in North Africa and fighting surface units. In the period 1943-1945, the planes were used by the Italian Social Republic. After the war, production continued as a civilian aircraft. Technical data (version SM.79 III): length: 16.2 m, wingspan: 20.2 m, height: 4.1 m, maximum speed: 460 km / h, climb speed: 5.3 m / s, practical ceiling: 7500 m, maximum range: 2600 km, armament: fixed - 2 7.7mm machine guns, 1 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun and 1 20mm cannon, suspended - up to 1200 kg of bombs or 2 450mm torpedoes.