Silhouette challenge

[S'land]

Well done LowNSlow, it is indeed the Macchi MC-72. The MC-72 had two contra-rotating propellers and was powered by two Fiat V-12 engines linked together in-line. A shaft from the rear engine ran through the front engine and then through the front engines hollow drive shaft to power the front propeller, the front engine powering the rear propeller. Although designed to take part in the 1931 Schneider Trophy contest it never did so due to its experimental engine design. However, on 10 April 1933, piloted by Maresciallo (later Tenente) Francesco Agello, it set a new world speed water over water of 682 km/h. On 23 October 1934, again piloted by Francesco Agello, it reached a speed of 709 km/h creating a speed record that would stand for five years. It is still the fastest speed ever attained by a piston engined sea-plane. After achieving this feat the aitcraft was not flown again.





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