SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019

SIAI-Marchetti · Italy · first flew 1969 · light aircraft

The SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019 is an Italian high-wing turboprop light observation aircraft developed from the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, designed for the Italian Army. It first flew in 1969 and provided improved performance and STOL capability over the piston-powered original.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × turboprop, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	8.57 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Italian Army light observation and liaison aircraft
Turboprop-powered development of the Cessna O-1
STOL capability for forward area operations

High-wing two-seat monoplane with a turboprop engine in the nose, tandem seating, large observation windows, and a conventional tail — recognisable as an O-1 derivative but with a turboprop cowling.

Specifications

The SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019 has a length of 8.57 m (28 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.97 m (36 ft).
Its maximum speed is 278 km/h (173 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

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

History

The Italian Army required a modern observation aircraft and SIAI-Marchetti developed the SM.1019 by fitting an Allison 250 turboprop to an O-1 airframe with Italian-designed improvements. It entered service with the Italian Army Aviation Corps and provided liaison, observation, and light transport services.

Variants

SM.1019A and SM.1019E were the main production variants with minor differences in avionics and equipment.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the Italian Army Aviation Corps (AVES) from the early 1970s; not used by the UK.

Related aircraft

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