Savoia-Pomilio SP.4

The Savoia-Pomilio SP.4 was a reconnaissance and bomber aircraft built in Italy during the First World War.[1] It was a further development of the family of designs that had started with the SP.1. Ultimately all of these took their basic configuration from the Farman MF.11: a biplane with twin tails and a fuselage nacelle that accommodated the crew and a pusher-mounted engine.[2] However, the SP.4 differed both from its Farman antecedent and the previous Savoia-Pomilio designs by featuring twin engines mounted in the interplane gap in place of the single engine in the nacelle.[2] Removing the engine from this position allowed a second machine gun to be placed there instead.[2]

SP.4
Role Reconnaissance and bomber aircraft
National origin Italy
Manufacturer AER
Designer Umberto Savoia and Ottorino Pomilio
First flight 1917
Number built ca. 150
Developed from Savoia-Pomilio SP.1

Apart from their intended role as a reconnaissance aircraft and bomber, some SP.4s were used to insert spies and saboteurs behind enemy lines.[3] A further development designated SP.5 remained unbuilt by the end of the war.[4]


Operators
 Kingdom of Italy

Specifications

Data from "Savoja-Pomilio S.p.4"

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two, pilot and observer
  • Length: 10.70 m (35 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 19.80 m (65 ft 0 in)
  • Wing area: 78 m2 (839 sq ft)
  • Gross weight: 2,300 kg (5,060 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Isotta-Fraschini V.4B , 110 kW (150 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 150 km/h (94 mph, 82 kn)

Armament

  • 2 × machine guns

Notes
  1. Taylor 1989, p.793
  2. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft p.2897
  3. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft p.2898
  4. "Savoja-Pomilio S.p.4"

References
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing.
  • "Savoja-Pomilio S.p.4". Aerei Italiani. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
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