The Savoia-Marchetti SM.88, was an Italian twin-engined, three-seat,

heavy fighter A heavy fighter is a historic category of fighter aircraft produced in the 1930s and 1940s, designed to carry heavier weapons, and/or operate at longer ranges than light fighter aircraft. To achieve performance, most heavy fighters were twin-eng ...

prototype of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, featuring a

twin-boom A twin-boom aircraft is characterised by two longitudinal booms (extended nacelle-like bodies). The booms may contain ancillary items such as fuel tanks and/or provide a supporting structure for other items. Typically, twin tailbooms support ...

structure, and powered by German

Daimler-Benz DB 601 The Daimler-Benz DB 601 was a German aircraft engine built during World War II. It was a liquid-cooled inverted V12, and powered the Messerschmitt Bf 109, Messerschmitt Bf 110, and many others. Approximately 19,000 601's were produced befo ...

engines. The SM.88, intended for export, was a land-based, multi-role heavy fighter regarded as an advanced combat aircraft at the time of its debut in 1939. Though Savoia had already developed a similar twin-boom aircraft, (the S.55) the layout was regarded as a new concept for Italian aircraft industries. The crew of three, two pilots and a rear gunner, were housed in a fully glazed ejectable crew nacelle located in the middle of the centre wing panel, behind the two

engines. The tail had two vertical rudders with a single horizontal surface between. The retractable landing gear consisted of four wheels, two in the front fuselage and one on the tail-end of each boom. The structure was a wooden frame covered with a metal skin. When the aircraft bombed a target, the pilot took on the role of bombardier, lying on the floor of the fuselage to sight the bombs, while the co-pilot flew the aircraft. The rear defensive gun was encased in a flexible plastic enclosure in the crew nacelle while two more 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT heavy machine guns were mounted in the wings. With the advent of

, the Germans denied permission to export the DB 601 engine to Italy, effectively leaving the SM.88 without powerplants. The '' Regia Aeronautica'' declined to order the aircraft due to the similar performance of the

Messerschmitt Bf 110 The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often known unofficially as the Me 110,Because it was built before ''Bayerische Flugzeugwerke'' became Messerschmitt AG in July 1938, the Bf 110 was never officially given the designation Me 110. is a twin-engine (Des ...

, which was already proven as reliable, in production and had better armament. In 1942 the Regia Aeronautica requested a redesign of the aircraft into a fast reconnaissance aircraft or bomber. They requested a range of 2,000 km (1,240 mi) with auxiliary tanks, or 1,500 km (930 mi) with 500 kg (1,100 lb) bombload (with an effective radius of 750 km (465 mi)). Savoia-Marchetti would design the SM.91 and the SM.92 in response, both largely inspired by the SM.88.

Specifications (SM.88)

References

* Lembo, Daniele, ''I bifusoliera della Regia'', Storia militare magazine, Westward editions, n.11, April–May 2000

External links

Might Have Beens: Italian Twin-Engined Fighters, 1943
– ''worldatwar.net'' {{Savoia-Marchetti aircraft Abandoned military aircraft projects of Italy sm.088 World War II Italian fighter aircraft Savoia-Marchetti SM.088 Mid-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1939 1930s Italian fighter aircraft Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft

Specifications (SM.88)

See also

References

External links