Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello
SIAI-Marchetti · Italy · first flew 1934 · bomber
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Bat) was an Italian three-engine monoplane bomber and transport that served as the primary Italian heavy bomber at the outbreak of World War II. A derivative of the civil SM.73 airliner, it combined transport and bombing roles.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 18.3 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three-engine Italian interwar bomber-transport with fixed undercarriage
- Twin-fin tail and corrugated metal construction
- Central nose engine plus one on each wing
Three radial engines — one in the nose, one under each wing — combined with a twin-fin tail, fixed undercarriage with large spat fairings, and mid-wing monoplane configuration are characteristic. The corrugated skinning on some examples is also notable.
Specifications
- The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello has a length of 18.3 m (60 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 24.02 m (79 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 340 km/h (211 mph).
- Typical crew: 6.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in 1935, the SM.81 saw extensive combat in the Italian invasion of Ethiopia (1935–36) and the Spanish Civil War before World War II. By 1940 it was obsolescent as a bomber but continued in transport and training roles through the war.
Variants
Produced with several different engine combinations including the Piaggio P.X, Alfa Romeo 125 RC.35, and Gnome-Rhône 14K; no distinct variant designations but engine fits varied between batches.
Where you'll see it
Served exclusively with the Regia Aeronautica in Africa, Spain, and the Mediterranean theatre; no examples survive in flying condition, though partial remains exist in Italian museums.
Related aircraft
- Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
- Savoia-Marchetti SM.85
- SIAI-Marchetti SM.75 Marsupiale
- SIAI-Marchetti SM.82 Marsupiale
- Aero A.101
- Aichi D1A
- Avia B-156
- Bellanca 77-140
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