The engineers, Torretta and Carlo Maurilio Lerici of the Fiat company, designed the airplane as a "Jack of all trades", its speed, climbing power, and carrying capacity enabled it to be used as a bomber and racer.[2] It was built in the workshops of the Societa Italiano Aviazione, a sister company to the famous motor-car firm F.I.A.T. of Turin.[2] It used the standard Italian structural feature of a plywood-covered fuselage.[3]
The SIA.7B was accepted for the Italian Air Force in November 1917 and entered mass production. There were however revealed its shortcomings, like low wing structure durability and poor view.[1] Next variant SIA.7B2, developed in December 1917, had strengthened wings, slightly raised cockpits and stronger engine. Another variant, built in February 1918, was the SIA 9 with stronger 700 hp engine. There were built 501 SIA.7B, 71 SIA.7B2 and 62 SIA.9B.[1]
Operational historyedit
The SIA.7 family aircraft were used for reconnaissance and bombing raids on Austro-Italian front. The SIA.7B2 entered service in March 1918. The SIA.9 managed to take part in World War I service as well. Because of unsatisfactory durability, from July 1918 SIA.7B and 7В2 were moved to training units.
In 1917, the Italian government sent a pair of SIA 7B-1 aircraft to the United States for evaluation under a plan to mass-produce established European designs. The 7B-1 was not put into production in the US but 19 were bought in Italy for use by A.E.F. units sent there.[3]
Variantsedit
SIA 7B in the United States.SIA 7B in the United States.
SIA 7B1
main reconnaissance-bomber variant
SIA 7B2
improved reconnaissance-bomber variant
SIA R2
scout-bomber built in 1918, span 12.32 m (40 ft 5 in), length 8.75 M (28 ft 8 in), height 3.3 m (120 ft 10 in), speed 180 km/h (111.8 mph)[2]
SIA 9B
two-seat reconnaissance-bomber 700 hp (522 kW) Fiat A.14 engine[2]
^John W.R. Taylor (1990). "forward". Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I. By Whittaker, W. E. De. B. New York, N.Y.: Military Press. p. 207. ISBN978-0517033760.
Further readingedit
Swanborough, F.G.; Bowers, P.M. (1971). United States Military Aircraft Since 1908 (revised ed.). Putnams. p. 618. ISBN0370000943.
Fahey, James (1946). U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946 (1st ed.). Fall Church, VA: Ships & Aircraft.
biplane, reconnaissance, bomber, built, società, italiana, aviazione, served, with, italian, corpo, aeronautico, militare, american, expeditionary, force, 1917, role, reconnaissance, bomber, national, origin, italy, manufacturer, società, italiana, aviazione, . The SIA 7B was a biplane reconnaissance bomber built by the Societa Italiana Aviazione and served with the Italian Corpo Aeronautico Militare and American Expeditionary Force in 1917 SIA 7 S I A 7B Role Reconnaissance bomber National origin Italy Manufacturer Societa Italiana Aviazione Designer Torretta and Carlo Maurilio Lerici First flight Summer 1917 Introduction 1917 Primary users Corpo Aeronautico MilitareAmerican Expeditionary Force Number built 572 1 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications 7B 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksDevelopment editThe engineers Torretta and Carlo Maurilio Lerici of the Fiat company designed the airplane as a Jack of all trades its speed climbing power and carrying capacity enabled it to be used as a bomber and racer 2 It was built in the workshops of the Societa Italiano Aviazione a sister company to the famous motor car firm F I A T of Turin 2 It used the standard Italian structural feature of a plywood covered fuselage 3 The SIA 7B was accepted for the Italian Air Force in November 1917 and entered mass production There were however revealed its shortcomings like low wing structure durability and poor view 1 Next variant SIA 7B2 developed in December 1917 had strengthened wings slightly raised cockpits and stronger engine Another variant built in February 1918 was the SIA 9 with stronger 700 hp engine There were built 501 SIA 7B 71 SIA 7B2 and 62 SIA 9B 1 Operational history editThe SIA 7 family aircraft were used for reconnaissance and bombing raids on Austro Italian front The SIA 7B2 entered service in March 1918 The SIA 9 managed to take part in World War I service as well Because of unsatisfactory durability from July 1918 SIA 7B and 7V2 were moved to training units In 1917 the Italian government sent a pair of SIA 7B 1 aircraft to the United States for evaluation under a plan to mass produce established European designs The 7B 1 was not put into production in the US but 19 were bought in Italy for use by A E F units sent there 3 Variants edit nbsp SIA 7B in the United States nbsp SIA 7B in the United States SIA 7B1 main reconnaissance bomber variant SIA 7B2 improved reconnaissance bomber variant SIA R2 scout bomber built in 1918 span 12 32 m 40 ft 5 in length 8 75 M 28 ft 8 in height 3 3 m 120 ft 10 in speed 180 km h 111 8 mph 2 SIA 9B two seat reconnaissance bomber 700 hp 522 kW Fiat A 14 engine 2 Operators edit nbsp Kingdom of Italy Corpo Aeronautico Militare nbsp United States American Expeditionary Forces received 19 7B 1 in February 1917 used at Foggia Italy 4 Specifications 7B edit nbsp SIA 7B drawing Data from Jane s Fighting Aircraft of World War I 5 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 8 75 m 28 ft 8 in Wingspan 12 32 m 40 ft 5 in Height 3 3 m 10 ft 10 in Wing area 45 6 m2 491 sq ft Gross weight 1 670 kg 3 682 lb Fuel capacity 215 kg 474 lb 307 L 81 US gal 68 imp gal at Specific Gravity of 0 7 Powerplant 1 Fiat A 12bis 6 cylinder water cooled in line piston engine 220 kW 300 hp Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch wooden propeller 2 8 m 9 ft 2 in diameter 1 85 m 6 ft 1 in pitch at 1 500 rpm Performance Maximum speed 180 km h 110 mph 97 kn at 200 m 660 ft 165 km h 103 mph 89 kn at 2 000 m 6 600 ft dd dd dd Landing speed 75 km h 47 mph 40 kn Endurance 4 6 hours 1 Rate of climb 1 24 m s 244 ft min Time to altitude 1 000 m 3 300 ft in 6 minutes 2 000 m 6 600 ft in 14 minutes 3 000 m 9 800 ft in 23 minutes 4 000 m 13 000 ft in 38 minutes dd dd dd Wing loading 36 7 kg m2 7 5 lb sq ft Power mass 0 134 kW kg 0 082 hp lb Armament Guns 1x 6 5 mm 0 256 in Fiat Revelli Modello 1914 machine gun on a flexible mount in the rear cockpit Bombs 60 kg 132 lb bombs 1 See also editList of military aircraft of the United StatesReferences edit a b c d e SIA 7 9 at Ugolok Neba in Russian a b c d Taylor 2001 Page 207 a b Swanborough amp Bowers 1964 page 559 Fahey 1946 page 12 John W R Taylor 1990 forward Jane s Fighting Aircraft of World War I By Whittaker W E De B New York N Y Military Press p 207 ISBN 978 0517033760 Further reading editSwanborough F G Bowers P M 1971 United States Military Aircraft Since 1908 revised ed Putnams p 618 ISBN 0370000943 Fahey James 1946 U S Army Aircraft 1908 1946 1st ed Fall Church VA Ships amp Aircraft External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to SIA 7 SIA 7 9 at Ugolok Neba in Russian Portals nbsp Italy nbsp Companies nbsp Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SIA 7 amp oldid 1194383554, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
