SIAI-Marchetti SM.89

SIAI-Marchetti · Italy · first flew 1941 · bomber

The SM.89 was an Italian twin-engine heavy attack aircraft prototype developed by SIAI-Marchetti in 1941, intended for anti-shipping and ground-attack missions with a heavy forward-firing armament. It remained a prototype as Italian industry focused on more conventional types.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	16.85 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Italian twin-engine heavy ground-attack/bomber prototype
Large forward-firing cannon armament
WWII Italian attack bomber with mid-wing layout

A large twin-engine mid-wing monoplane with a distinctive heavy nose housing substantial cannon armament; the broad wing and twin radial engines are characteristic of Italian WWII medium bombers.

Specifications

The SIAI-Marchetti SM.89 has a length of 16.85 m (55 ft).
It has a wingspan of 21.04 m (69 ft).
Its maximum speed is 440 km/h (273 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed to meet Regia Aeronautica requirements for a powerful anti-shipping aircraft, the SM.89 was armed with a 102 mm cannon and additional guns in the nose. Testing revealed handling difficulties and the project was not taken forward to production. The type reflected Italian interest in cannon-armed attack aircraft during the war.

Variants

A single prototype was built with no production variants following.

Where you'll see it

The SM.89 saw no operational service beyond prototype flight testing.

Related aircraft

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