Macchi M.15
| Macchi M.15 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Reconnaissance aircraft and trainer |
| National origin | Italy |
| Manufacturer | Macchi |
| Designer | |
| Primary user | Italy |
| Number built | 20 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1918-1922 |
| First flight | 1918 |
The Macchi M.15 was an Italian reconnaissance aircraft, bomber and trainer, designed by Alessandro Tonini and Piero Bergonzi and built by Macchi.
Design and development
[edit]The M.15, which first flew in 1918,[1] was a two-seat biplane with wings of unequal span, its upper wing being of wider span than its lower wing. Its interplane struts were inclined in a "V" configuration. Its 238-kilowatt (320-horsepower) Fiat A.12 engine drove a two-bladed propeller in a tractor configuration and gave it a top speed of 185 kilometers per hour (115 miles per hour). It had fixed landing gear.[2] The Macchi M.15 Bis per trasporto passeggeri was a three-seat passenger transport with similar attributes to the M.15 that appeared from 1922,[3] in the same year also a new reconnaissance version was released, simply called M.15 Bis.[4] No more than 20 examples of all the models were built.
Operational History
[edit]By December 1919, three aircraft were in service with the Regio Esercito.[5]
In 1922, the M.15 were assigned to the 115th Squadron of the Corpo Aeronautico Militare (Royal Army's Air Corps) based in Bologna, part of the 15th Group stationed in Padua.[6] In 1922 the order for 12 aircraft was placed.[7] On 22 September 1923, one M.15 from the squadron was lost in an accident, resulting in the death of a crew member.[8]
In 1923, the Bis version was registered for testing by the Direzione Superiore del Genio e delle Costruzioni Aeronautiche (Directorate of Engineering and Aeronautical Construction).[9] After the establishment of the Regia Aeronautica, on 1 January 1924 18 aircraft were registered for assignment to the 30th and 115th Squadrons, which had not yet been established.[6] In May 1924 an M.15 Bis was used by Prospero Freri for experimental launches with the parachute of his invention at Montecelio.[10] In a subsequent summary of the planes in service dated 1 January 1925 no M.15 appears to have been used in reconnaissance units.[11] Despite this, three examples of M.15 Bis were still in service for experiments in 1928.[12]
Variants
[edit]- M.15: First reconnaissance version designed in 1918, characterised by a very inclined fin and an ovoid-shaped radiator.[13]
- M.15 Bis per trasporto passeggeri: Civilian version designed in 1919, equipped with a closed cabin for two passengers.[14]
- M.15 Bis: Second reconnaissance version appeared in 1922, it was distinguished from the original M.15 by the curved profile of the fin and the different engine cowling, with a square-shaped radiator.[4]
Operators
[edit]
Specifications (M.15)
[edit]Data from [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 8.57 m (28 ft 1.4 in)
- Wingspan: 13.47 m (44 ft 2.3 in)
- Height: 3.37 m (11 ft 0.67 in)
- Wing area: 42.00 m2 (452.07 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 1,230 kg (2,712 lb)
- Gross weight: 1,743 kg (3,843 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Fiat A.12 , 238 kW (320 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 185 km/h (115 mph, 100 kn)
- Range: 600 km (373 mi, 324 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
Armament
- 1 x 0.303 in Vickers cal. 7,7 fixed forward-firing synchronized machine gun[13][4]
- 2 x 6.5 mm Fiat Mod.14 Avio machine guns: 1 in the dorsal position, 1 in the ventral position.[13][4]
See also
[edit]Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
Notes
[edit]- ^ Apostolo 2013, p. 124.
- ^ Aerei Italiani Macchi M.15 Archived 2011-06-17 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ a b Gey, C.G. (1969). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1919 (Facsimile ed.). London: David & Charles (Publishers) Limited. p. 392a. ISBN 07153 4647 4.
- ^ a b c d Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi 1922.
- ^ Ferrari 2005, p. 28.
- ^ a b Curami 1981a, p. 7.
- ^ Gentilli 2022, p. 13.
- ^ Gentilli 2022, p. 241.
- ^ Curami 1981a, p. 8.
- ^ Gentilli 2022, pp. 36, 37.
- ^ Curami 1981a, p. 10.
- ^ Curami 1981b, p. 5.
- ^ a b c Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi 1918.
- ^ Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi 1919.
Bibliography
[edit]- Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi (1918). Disegno N.15000 - M.15 Biplano da ricognizione. Varese.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi (1919). Disegno N.15002bis - M.15bis Biplano per trasporto passeggeri. Varese.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi (1922). Disegno N.15001A- M.15bis Biplano da ricognizione. Varese.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Apostolo, Giorgio (2013). Ali tricolori, Parte 1: 1910-1922. Storia Militare.
- Ferrari, Massimo (2005). Le ali del ventennio: l'aviazione italiana dal 1923 al 1945. Franco Angeli.
- Gentilli, Roberto (2022). 1923-1926, L'aviazione italiana prima di Balbo. IBN Editore.
- Curami, Andrea (1981a). "Appunti sull'aviazione italiana negli anni '20 - Gli aerei da ricognizione 1ª parte". Aerofan Magazine (1).
- Curami, Andrea (1981b). "Appunti sull'aviazione italiana negli anni '20 - Gli aerei da ricognizione 2ª parte". Aerofan Magazine (2).
References
[edit]
