The Macchi company had learned about flying boat design from copying an Austrian flying boat to produce the Macchi L.1 and improving it to produce the L.2. The result was the L.3, which was renamed the M.3 in 1917 to recognise the change in design from Lohner influenced to a Macchi design. Only the unequal-span biplane wings were inherited from the L.2; a new and refined hull and strut-mounted tailplane were designed. Like its predecessors, the new plane was powered by a single Isotta Fraschini engine strut mounted between the two wings and driving a pusher propeller. It was armed with a single machine gun on a trainable mounting and could also carry four light bombs. In 1916, one aircraft gained the world altitude record for a seaplane when it climbed to 5,400 m (17,700 ft) in 41 minutes.
Operational historyedit
Over 200 M.3s were built and delivered to the Royal Italian Navy and were used on a variety of missions which including bombing, reconnaissance, patrol and escort. For a short period in 1917, it was also used as a fighter. Several aircraft were used in commando-style operations behind Austrian lines. The aircraft were highly regarded by the Royal Italian Navy and they were used on bombing raids and pioneered the Italian use of aerial photography. After World War I, the type was used by training units until 1924.
In 1919, an L.3 which belonged to the Italian Military Mission in Argentina connected Buenos Aires with Asunción, Paraguay for the first time. This plane was later donated to the Paraguayan government. Lieutenant Arturo Escario, who was already a pilot, trained in the L.3 in Argentina. This plane was destroyed in an accident on 30 September 1919. Its pilot, Lieutenant Escario, died the following day.
A number of second-hand aircraft were used by the Swiss company Ad Astra Aero to carry out charters and joy rides on the Swiss lakes, the two passengers were seated side-by-side behind a large windscreen with the pilot in a raised open cockpit further aft.[citation needed]
Two M.3s were fitted with Fiat A.12 engines and were re-designated Macchi M.4, but they were abandoned after completion in favour of the Macchi M.9.
macchi, macchi, later, italian, biplane, flying, boat, developed, from, earlier, role, biplane, flying, boatmanufacturer, macchifirst, flight, 1916retired, 1924primary, user, regia, marinanumber, built, 200developed, from, macchi, contents, development, operat. The Macchi L 3 or later Macchi M 3 was an Italian biplane flying boat developed from the earlier L 2 Macchi M 3Role Biplane flying boatManufacturer MacchiFirst flight 1916Retired 1924Primary user Regia MarinaNumber built 200Developed from Macchi L 2 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Specifications 5 See also 6 ReferencesDevelopment editThe Macchi company had learned about flying boat design from copying an Austrian flying boat to produce the Macchi L 1 and improving it to produce the L 2 The result was the L 3 which was renamed the M 3 in 1917 to recognise the change in design from Lohner influenced to a Macchi design Only the unequal span biplane wings were inherited from the L 2 a new and refined hull and strut mounted tailplane were designed Like its predecessors the new plane was powered by a single Isotta Fraschini engine strut mounted between the two wings and driving a pusher propeller It was armed with a single machine gun on a trainable mounting and could also carry four light bombs In 1916 one aircraft gained the world altitude record for a seaplane when it climbed to 5 400 m 17 700 ft in 41 minutes Operational history editOver 200 M 3s were built and delivered to the Royal Italian Navy and were used on a variety of missions which including bombing reconnaissance patrol and escort For a short period in 1917 it was also used as a fighter Several aircraft were used in commando style operations behind Austrian lines The aircraft were highly regarded by the Royal Italian Navy and they were used on bombing raids and pioneered the Italian use of aerial photography After World War I the type was used by training units until 1924 In 1919 an L 3 which belonged to the Italian Military Mission in Argentina connected Buenos Aires with Asuncion Paraguay for the first time This plane was later donated to the Paraguayan government Lieutenant Arturo Escario who was already a pilot trained in the L 3 in Argentina This plane was destroyed in an accident on 30 September 1919 Its pilot Lieutenant Escario died the following day A number of second hand aircraft were used by the Swiss company Ad Astra Aero to carry out charters and joy rides on the Swiss lakes the two passengers were seated side by side behind a large windscreen with the pilot in a raised open cockpit further aft citation needed Two M 3s were fitted with Fiat A 12 engines and were re designated Macchi M 4 but they were abandoned after completion in favour of the Macchi M 9 Operators edit nbsp Ad Astra Aero M 3 CH 15 nbsp Kingdom of ItalyRegia Marina nbsp SwitzerlandAd Astra Aero nbsp ParaguayParaguayan Air ForceSpecifications editData from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 Orbis Publishing p 2392 General characteristicsCrew 2 Wingspan 15 95 m 52 ft 4 in Gross weight 1 350 kg 2 976 lb Powerplant 1 Isotta Fraschini V 4B 119 kW 160 hp Performance Maximum speed 144 km h 90 mph 78 kn Range 385 km 239 mi 208 nmi Armament 1 Fiat machine gun or a light cannon 4 light bombsSee also editRelated development Lohner L 1 Macchi L 2Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era FBA Type SRelated lists List of seaplanes and flying boatsReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macchi M 3 Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 Orbis Publishing p 2392 Sapienza Fracchia Antonio Luis La Contribucion Italiana en la Aviacion Paraguaya Author s edition Asuncion 2007 300pp Portals nbsp Italy nbsp Companies nbsp Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Macchi M 3 amp oldid 1136044330, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
