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- 14 June 2006
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I've started research for a projected book on the three SIAI-Marchetti late war prototypes (SM-91 to 93). Don't hold your breath, it will take at least a year... In real Secret Projects style, competitors and relatives will be treated besides the requirement-design-evolution-construction-test cycle of each. I want to share with you some of what has emerged so far for the "environment" of the SM-92 (the twin fuselage one, for those not familiar with Italian airplanes): in particular i can debunk some myths. First, there was some form (very informal) of "competition" for an heavy-fighter in early 1942. To that responded only SIAI Marchetti, FIAT with the G-58 and perhaps Reggiane with a derivative of the Re-2005 with a larger airframe and span. The MC-205 twin isn't a tender to this requirement. It was designed by the direct suggestion of the Air Force Technical Inspector (General Ilari) in late spring of 1943, but Macchi made it clear that the design wasn't worth pursuing. Moreover, the Mc-300 designation is pure fantasy. The Ca-380 and 381 Corsaro seem not related to this requirement but to another one, later, end of 1942, for something similar to the Mosquito (like in Germany the Ta-154). So it was entirely built in wood and was intended primarily for solo flights for interdiction, counter-air etc (like the Mosquito). Moreover, it was intended as a light bomber and torpedo bomber besides the heavy fighter role. From this the name Corsaro (Corsair).
Finally, the P-125 from Piaggio, sometimes linked with the heavy-fighter competiton of 1942, had in fact nothing to do with it. That design was simply the B.S. Bombardiere Santangelo, a tri-motor twin boom design submitted to the Bombardiere Normale competition from 1938 by Major Santangelo of the Regia Aeronautica, the construction of which was crafted to Piaggio (which did everything they could to not do it... : ). All work of the redesignated P.125 ended in July 1940.
Finally, the P-125 from Piaggio, sometimes linked with the heavy-fighter competiton of 1942, had in fact nothing to do with it. That design was simply the B.S. Bombardiere Santangelo, a tri-motor twin boom design submitted to the Bombardiere Normale competition from 1938 by Major Santangelo of the Regia Aeronautica, the construction of which was crafted to Piaggio (which did everything they could to not do it... : ). All work of the redesignated P.125 ended in July 1940.