Macchi MC.72 - worlds fastest seaplane

            Conceived to compete in the 1931 Schneider Trophy competition, the Macchi MC.72 was a cutting edge racing seaplane designed by Mario Castoldi (hence the ‘C’ in the prefix). It was powered by a huge Fiat AS.6 V-24 engine capable of producing more than 3,000 HP and driving a four blade contra-rotating propeller to counter the massive torque. The AS.6 engine, which was 3.365 m (11 ft) long, was basically two Fiat AS.5 V-12 engines coupled together with each driving a separate propeller. Its cooling system consisted of radiator surfaces covering much of the structure which are visible on the floats, struts and wings.

Unfortunately for the Italian team, despite its advanced design and potential, the MC.72 was not perfected enough to compete in 1931. The British team won that year with the Supermarine S.6B, and were also outright winners of the Schneider Trophy with a third consecutive win.

However, the MC.72 did subsequently set an absolute world speed record in 1933 of 424 mph, and then again the following year when a speed of 440 mph was attained by the MC.72 in this photograph, MM181 preserved today at the Italian Air Force Museum, and which is the only surviving example of the five originally built. The world speed record was broken in 1939 by a German Heinkel HE 100 prototype, but this MC.72 still holds the world speed record for seaplanes.

Taken in: Italy / Latium / Anguillara Sabazia / Vigna di Valle (show map)

Taken on: February 25, 2024

Tags:

MC.72

MM181

Schneider Trophy

Schneider Races

Seaplane

Museo Storico Aeronautica Militare

Museo Storico Dell'Aeronotica Militare « less

Sets appears in: • Museums • Italian Air Force Museum more » • Record Breakers • Racers « less

Groups appears in: • Seaplanes • Sea Planes more » • Air Museums • Unique or Unusual Aircraft • The Aviation Museum « less

Camera: Canon EOS 6D, f/8.0, 0.4 sec, 47mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 6D
Lens:	EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.4
Focal Length:	47mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	+2/3 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Lightroom 5.5 (Windows)
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