'Tinsyde Elephant?

No not British..................

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....be411a3f39.jpg

Siemens-Halske Sh-12 engine,
or license Ryan Siemens 9
It looks like a re-engine compared to the first photo which might have been a rotating engine?
I could not find any regular types with the Sh-12 and the strut arrangement and height of the upper wing above the fuselage.
still not desperate but I invite others to have a fresh look.

Not sure about the engine - it had a history of using different types I understand but can't find a definite list
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....824b318ed0.jpg

Vecihi XIV

Vecihi XIV

Excellent! Well done

Quite an odd story for the first Turkish aircraft designer - he built aeroplanes but the Turkish Govt wouldn't let him fly them for years - it was only when he went to the Balkans that he was able to get them flying after which the guys at home repented, Apparently he used recycled engines left over from British & German wrecks from WW1 around the Dardanelles...............

Thanks Asturias56 - and apologies for the delay, but it'll have to make it - Open House.

I found these beautiful lines:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....294e208f0.jpeg

Hatches in nose suggests a flying boat - possibly a Dornier Do26? There's some writing on the nose "....Corporation" - possibly Germany Aircraft Corp but in English???

"American Aeronautical Corporation"

The dragon motif is the same as on the nose of at least one Siai Marchetti SM80
The first word isn't American, the second is probably Aeronautic/al or Aeromotive
The aircraft's 'name' appears to be *****bird.

It is not the Siai-Marchetti SM80
I would have thought one of you would have figured it out by now.
But apparently an additional clue is required:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....fdb379ea5.jpeg

Well, I talked my way out of that one then! It was American Aeronautical Corporation after all, and clearly not the SM80 as I implied. Not that this would have helped as searches for this corporation reveal other licence built Marchettis but no mention of this one. Certainly a big Marchetti connection that I missed but the vital connection nowhere to be found!

Astonishingly - SLB you devious person! - it is the now all-too familiar Savoia Marchetti SM 62 of which I found no photo on the internet with an enclosed cockpit hence my rejecting it repeatedly despite returning to it many times. Cunning stuff!

I only found it by entering the registration. I-BBBY

Only found the AAC connection with this aircraft by searchng for American Aeronautic Corp. - search for AA 'Corporation' raises no link and even that doesn't connect unless S62 is appended too! That is the only link connecting the type and the AAC hat I have found and even then the silhouette provided shows an open cockpit!

ps. Subsequently just found a rather fuzzy pic of one in this configuration. Oh well!

I'm not claiming this one as it took a registration to reveal it!

In any case I have no challenge to offer.

Nice one! Keep them coming.

I think I saw a Kermit Weeks video about acquiring one of two remaining S-56s licence-built by AAC - a rather charming little aeroplane compared with some of SM's other behemoths and one that would imbue a certain elegance to any lake-side soiree...

Mel has it with the Savoia-Marchetti S62.
To be precise it is the S62p (public version).
Apparently Italian build and flown to America for marketing by AAC.

When Treadigraph mentioned the AAC correctly I thought the quest would be solved quite soon.
Then I overlooked that there was a registration on my second photo.

Mel can you post the vague photo you have found? And the photo of the sea dragon (or seahorse?) on the SM80?

Open House called

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c8cc2211d.jpeg

Here's the video about Kermit's acquisition:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6e13a4a956.png
Pretty indistinct but the dragon's there!


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9c5de5a179.png
Not the best quality but I don't know how I missed the cockpit.
Is that picture airbrushed or maybe an artists impression - the perspective of the cockpit looks all wrong and the panels don't seem to match the challenge photo at all.

Here's a link to the AAC's production of the S62, with an intriguing photo of one with the cockpit obscured.
None of the others show the enclosed version.
Savoia-Marchetti S.62 / American Aeronautical Corp S-62

All in all a very devious challenge despite Treaders' helpful hint!

My initial source of le hippocampe.
The shrimp

As it's open house, I'll give you this challenge - probably quite easy for you lot :)

https://am3pap004files.storage.live....&cropmode=none