Macchi M.71
Macchi · Italy · first flew 1930 · fighter
The Macchi M.71 was an Italian flying boat fighter of the 1930s, a wooden single-seat, single-bay biplane built by Macchi and powered by a Fiat A.20 engine.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.66 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay biplane flying boat
- Inclined steel-tube struts between the hull, interplane struts and upper wing
- Catapult pick-up points for launch from warships
Two fixed forward-firing 7.7 mm machine guns were fitted.
Specifications
- The Macchi M.71 has a length of 8.66 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.12 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 256 km/h (159 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
In 1930 Macchi built a new version of its M.41bis designed to be launched by catapult from warships of the Regia Marina. It had the same dimensions as the M.41bis and was aerodynamically very clean for its type.
Variants
Compared with the M.41bis it had a stronger wing cellule, catapult pick-up points and steel-tube struts in place of bracing wires, to speed assembly aboard ship.
Where you'll see it
The Regia Marina accepted it and Macchi built probably no more than twelve. They briefly served aboard warships in the 1930s until the IMAM Ro.43 and Ro.44 replaced them.
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- Macchi M.67
- Macchi M.41
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