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Aviation / Aerospace

Macchi M.7

Flying Boat Fighter / Pilot Trainer Biplane Aircraft [ 1918 ]

A specially-modified form of the Macchi M.7 flying boat fighter claimed the Schneider Trophy of 1921.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/31/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]

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Before the Italian concern of Macchi developed its stable of frontline fighters for the Italian Air Force of World War 2, it established operations as a well-respected flying boat maker in World War 1 (1914-1918) beginning with the Macchi L.1 reconnaissance platform of 1915. One hundred examples of this aircraft were produced. Before long followed the L.2 platform and then the L.3/M.3 of 1916. This work lay the foundation for its two most recognized flying boats of the war -the M.5 and M.7 (the M.6 only achieved the prototype stage).

The M.7 appeared in 1918 and was based on the preceding M.5 model though with a revised hull element. The aircraft's dimensions included a length of 8 meters, a wingspan of 10 meters, and a height of 3 meters. Its crew was one with the cockpit sat in the boat-like hull. A biplane wing arrangement was erected over the fuselage with the lower planes attached to the fuselage and the upper wing section supported through a network of strong, thick struts. Floats, to prevent tipping in rough seas or during take-off/landing, were added under the lower wing elements. The single engine was fitted under the upper wing element and over/slightly aft of the pilot's position. The empennage, or tail unit. was conventional with a single rudder and mid-mounted tailplanes in play. Design of the aircraft fell to Alesandro Tonini.©MilitaryFactory.com

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The engine of choice became an Isotta Fraschini V6 inline piston type outputting 260 horsepower. The engine drove a two-bladed propeller arranged as a "pusher" at the rear of the engine mount. The placement of the powerplant left much of the hull open for fuel and the like while also eliminating a primary visual obstruction witnessed in other aircraft designs of the period. Additionally, its high placement helped to clear sea spray. Performance included a maximum speed of 125 miles per hour with a service ceiling up to 23,000 feet. Endurance was up to three hours of flying time giving the aircraft a fairly good reach over water.

Armament was largely traditional for the period, a pair of 7.7mm Vickers machine guns fixed to fire forward and fitted to the bow section of the aircraft. The M.7 was actually intended as a flying boat fighter, combing altitude, range, and a serviceable armament load out to accomplish the role.

About 100 of the aircraft were ultimately produced by Macchi with the primary operator becoming the Italian Navy Aviation service. However, its involvement in World War 1 was very limited for fewer than twenty were on hand at the time of the Armistice in November of 1918. In the post-war drawdown, it was saw fit to sell off some of the stock to military customers such as Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Sweden where the aircraft continued to serve for a time longer.

Macchi engineers revised the design to produce the M.7bis mark, this variant specifically modified for air racing and given shorter, lighter wings. The design was an improvement for it was able to capture the Schneider Trophy of 1921. Come 1923 the M.7 appeared in another revised form as the M.7ter. This model was given a greater redesign that included a new empennage, revised wing elements, and a modified hull section. This model was taken on by the Italian Navy for a time and a sub-variant, the M.7ter with folding wings, was also seen.

After their use as military flying machines had ended, the line remained a participant in the civilian market until the late 1930s. It was all but a memory by the time of World War 2 which featured all-modern developments arising from the interwar years.©MilitaryFactory.com

Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications

Service Year

1918

Origin

Kingdom of Italy

Crew

1

Production

102
UNITS

Macchi - Italy

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

Argentina; Brazil; Kingdom of Italy; Paraguay; Sweden

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.

✓ Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.

✓ Training (General)
Developed ability to be used as a dedicated trainer for student pilots (typically under the supervision of an instructor).

Length

26.5 ft
(8.09 m)

Width/Span

32.6 ft
(9.95 m)

Height

9.7 ft
(2.97 m)

Empty Wgt

1,764 lb
(800 kg)

MTOW

2,205 lb
(1,000 kg)

Wgt Diff

+441 lb
(+200 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the Macchi M.7ter production variant)

Installed: 1 x Isotta-Fraschini V.6 liquid-cooled inline piston engine developing 260 horsepower driving a two-bladed propeller in a "pusher" arrangement.

Max Speed

124 mph
(200 kph | 108 kts)

Ceiling

22,966 ft
(7,000 m | 4 mi)

Range

373 mi
(600 km | 1,111 nm)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Macchi M.7ter production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

STANDARD:
2 x 7.7mm Vickers machine guns in fixed, forward-firing mountings at forward hull.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft medium machine gun

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Hardpoint Mountings: 0

M.7 - Base series designation; original model of 1918.

M.7ter - Revised M.7 of 1923; new hull, wings, and tail section.

M.7ter AR - Subvariant of the M.7ter with folding wings for warship storage.

M.7bis - Modified racer platform with shortened, lightened wing mainplanes.

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