Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Macchi MC.91 and Macchi MC.97
Macchi MC.91
Macchi proposed the MC.91 medium Bomber, with a vague resemblance to the American twin-engine bomber B-10 Martin, who was integrating the USAAC squadrons, just in 1934. Unlike the all-metal B-10, the MC.91 was completely of wood; Curiously the choice / availability of the engine fell on the Piaggio P. IX RC40, a reworking of the Bristol "Jupiter", with two-speed compressor, which increased the power up to 630 Hp; But even so little power, so, the engineer Mario Castoldi had to resolve a wood structure as light as possible and provide the cell with a more aerodynamic streamlined as possible (in my opinion, of all the projects presented, the MC.91 definitely had the best aerodynamics) but to achieve this level of refinement, had propose a formula with a small bomb bay, and the rest of the payload, hung externally under the fuselage. In exchange the solution for defensive positions was a truly nightmare, especially for those front and back, which were bulky as primitive completely ruining the aerodynamics of the cell, the position of defensive front also greatly impeded the pilot vision, making a "complicated" the Landing and take-off ... finally ... the commission rejected the project of Macchi MC.91
The general characteristics of MC.91 are (AEROFAN 1 / 82):
Engines: 2 x radial Piaggio P. IX RC 40 of 630 H / p each
Length: 15.85 m
Height: 4.82 m
Wingspan: 20.00 m
Wing area: 66.00 m2
Empty weight: 3666 kg
Total weight: 6425 kg
Payload: 2759 kg
Maximum speed: 374 km / h (4000 m)
Minimum speed: N / A km / h
Ascent to 5000 m: 16.25 min.
Tangency practice: 8000 m
Range: 2000 km
Armament: 1 200 kg bombs (in the bomb bay, as external loads)
Machine guns 2x SAFAT / Scotti 7.7 mm in the turret front, turret SAFAT 12.7 mm 12.7 mm SAFAT dorsal ventral position in
Crew: 4 men
Macchi MC.97
Macchi presented a reworking of his bomber, from which came out the MC.97 a heavier version of the first "MC.91", with an enlarged fuselage to accommodate all the bomb load inside the fuselage; A telescopic tower was added in the ventral position, the rudder was enlarged and increased , I do not know the choice of the Poiwer plant maybe a double radial; The problem of the visibility for the pilot, and it seems that even this latest proposals for a Macchi bomber proved unsatisfactory and dated for the "Regia" commission.
On MC.97 there is little material and no other information is known.
What is the purpose of the "portholes" on the fuselage of the MC.97?
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