[Plumps]

This is something for those that love seaplanes.

[Alemart_el_Redentor]

Ahh, i know this plane, it belong to the period between wars right?.

[philhl]

hehe, what an ugly plane with the engine on top saying: "here, come here, I am the engine, shoot me. I am placed very well to aim on me!" LOL

[Alemart_el_Redentor]

hehe, what an ugly plane...

Dude, there is no such thing as an ugly plane

[General Obi-Wan]

+1

We need more flying boats and floatplanes.

[Plumps]

Yes this plane is from the thirties, it held several records.

An epoch-making design in every sense, the S.55 prototype flew in 1925. In an era still committed to the biplane flying-boat, it had a revolutionary formula: a cantilever shoulder-wing monoplane with twin hulls and delicate booms supporting a twin-fin triple-rudder tail assembly. Side-by-side pilots' cockpits were located in the leading edge of the wing centre-section. Twin tandem engines were carried on struts over the wing. Originally these were 298kW Lorraines, but power was gradually increased to 559kW Assos on the 1933 S.55X.

Total production exceeded 200. The type formed the main equipment of Italy's maritime-bombing squadriglie for many years, 13 remaining on charge (but in reserve) in 1939. The S.55C and S.55P civil passenger versions operated Mediterranean routes for a decade.

The S.55 achieved great fame through spectacular long-distance flights: Lieut-Col the Marchese de Pinedo flew the Santa Maria from Sardinia to Buenos Aires and then through South America and the USA in 1927; later Brazilian, American and Russian crews achieved world headlines. The S.55 will be chiefly remembered, however, for the remarkable mass formation flights led by the famous Italo Balbo. The first began in December 1930 when specially modified S.55As covered 10,400km between Italy and Brazil. The second flight (three years later) was even more impressive: 24 S.55X machines overflew the Alps and continued in stages via Iceland, Greenland and Labrador to Chicago for the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition. The international press coined the phrase 'Aerial Armada' to describe the flights.

MODEL S.55X
CREW 5-6
ENGINE 2 x Isotta-Fraschini "Asso 750R", 656kW
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight 8260 kg 18210 lb
Loaded weight 5750 kg 12677 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan 24.0 m 78 ft 9 in
Length 16.75 m 54 ft 11 in
Height 5.0 m 16 ft 5 in
Wing area 93.0 m2 1001.04 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed 279 km/h 173 mph
Cruise speed 233 km/h 145 mph
Ceiling 5000 m 16400 ft
Range w/max.fuel 4500 km 2796 miles
Range w/max.payload 2000 km 1243 miles
ARMAMENT 4 x 7.7mm machine-guns, 1 torpedo or 2000kg of bombs

[RAF_Loke]

+10

[Plumps]

Those that have seen the film "Porco Rosso" will remember this plane!

[Jabo]

Dude, there is no such thing as an ugly plane

That's right, only those that take a little getting used to :wink:

[European Snake]

hehe, what an ugly plane with the engine on top saying: "here, come here, I am the engine, shoot me. I am placed very well to aim on me!" LOL

If you lead too far, you hit the engine!