Italy's SIAI Marchetti SM.75; Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 Marsupiale (marsupial) transport

Photos

Design

The SIAI Marchetti SM.75 was a civilian transport and was very successful commercially and was designed by Alessandro Marchetti in 1935. It was originally to be a 24 - 30 passenger aircraft that would replace the SM.73P. The design of the SM.75 eventually led to the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bomber.

The SM.75 was made from a composite structure and covering.

The passenger cabin had heating and ventilation.

Landing Gear

The SM.75 was the first aircraft designed by Marchetti that had retractable landing gear.

Production

• SIAI Marchetti SM.75:
  • Manufacturer: SIAI Marchetti
• Savoia-Marchetti SM.87:
  • Production: 1938 - ?

Variants

• SIAI Marchetti SM.75:
• SIAI Marchetti SM.87: Float plane version of the SM.75.
• SIAI Marchetti SM.87: Float plane version of the SM.75 with Pratt & Whitney engines intended for use in Argentina.

Usage

Civilian Use

In 1938 the Ala Littoria first started using the SM.75s.

Pilots N. Prota and G. Bertocco flew a SM.75 at a speed record of 207 mph over a 621 mile course and 205 mph over a 1,242 mile course while carrying 22,000 lb on January 9, 1939.

Military Use

When World War II broke out the Italian Air Force took over the civilian aircraft.

Some of the transports were used as bombers.

In June 1940 thirteen SM.75s were taken over from civilian use and assigned to the 601^a - 603^a Squadriglie of the 147° Gruppo "T" at Littorio.

Sole Survivor

In September 1943 the only remaining SM.87 was flown to join the Co-Belligerent Air Force.

After World War II

Some of the SM. 75s survived World War II and remained in use until 1949.

Specifications