SIAI-Marchetti
Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 Marsupiale
The Savoia‑Marchetti SM.75 Marsupiale was a versatile Italian transport aircraft produced by SIAI‑Marchetti in the late 1930s. Developed from the earlier SM.73, the SM.75 first flew in 1939 and entered service with both civilian airlines and the Regia Aeronautica. Its low‑wing, all‑metal monoplane design featured a twin‑engine configuration using 860 hp Alfa Romeo 128 radial engines, giving a top speed of about 380 km/h and a range exceeding 2 500 km, which allowed it to operate long‑distance routes across the Mediterranean and even to South America. The spacious fuselage could be fitted as a passenger liner for up to 19 seats, a cargo hauler, or a bomber equipped with defensive machine‑guns and a modest bomb load. Notable missions included a 1940 non‑stop flight from Rome to Tokyo and the 1941 supply runs to North‑African front lines. After World War II the type was adapted for post‑war commercial service, demonstrating the adaptability of pre‑war Italian engineering. The SM.75’s combination of speed, range and multi‑role capability made it a key bridge between early transport aircraft and the more specialized airliners that followed, securing its place in aviation history.
Classification
Dimensions
- Length
- 21.6 metre
- Height
- 4.1 metre
Performance
- Range
- 2279 kilometre
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 99
- First Flight
- 1937