SIAI-Marchetti SM.93
SIAI-Marchetti · Italy · first flew 1944 · fighter
The SM.93 was an Italian single-engine ground-attack prototype featuring a prone pilot position intended to improve g-tolerance during diving attacks. It was one of the few aircraft of WWII designed specifically for a prone pilot layout.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Prone-pilot attack aircraft with glazed nose fairing
- Single radial engine in nose, low straight wing
- Italian WWII dive-bomber/ground-attack prototype
Distinguished by its prone-pilot glazed nose fairing and low-mounted straight wing; the fuselage has an unusually flat forward profile compared to conventional single-seat fighters.
Specifications
- The SIAI-Marchetti SM.93 has a length of 11 m (36 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.9 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 579 km/h (360 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by SIAI-Marchetti in the closing stages of World War II, the SM.93 flew in 1944 but never entered production as Italy's war effort collapsed. The prone pilot concept was explored to allow pilots to endure higher g-forces during steep attack dives. Only one prototype was completed.
Variants
A single prototype was built; no production variants were developed before the end of hostilities.
Where you'll see it
The SM.93 saw no operational service, existing solely as a prototype that flew briefly in 1944.
Related aircraft
- Savoia-Marchetti SM.91
- Savoia-Marchetti SM.92
- Savoia-Marchetti SM.95
- SIAI-Marchetti SM.101
- Arado E.580
- Bell XP-77
- Blohm & Voss BV 155
- Curtiss SC Seahawk
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