SIAI-Marchetti
Savoia-Marchetti SM.95
The Savoia‑Marchetti SM.95 was a four‑engine Italian transport aircraft built by SIAI‑Marchetti in the late 1930s and operated through World War II and the post‑war era. Designed as a civilian airliner to replace the older SM.75, the prototype first flew in 1937 and entered service with Ala Littoria in 1939. The SM.95 featured a low‑wing monoplane layout, all‑metal construction, and a retractable under‑carriage. Powered by four Piaggio P.XI radial engines delivering 750 hp each, it could cruise at 350 km/h and carry up to 24 passengers or equivalent cargo over 1,200 km. During the war the type was requisitioned by the Regia Aeronautica and later the Italian Co‑B. It served as a troop carrier, medical evacuation platform, and courier aircraft, proving reliable on rough Mediterranean airstrips. After 1945 the SM.95 returned to civilian routes, becoming one of the first post‑war Europeanliners to fly between Italy, North Africa and the Middle East. Its blend of range, payload and ruggedness demonstrated the potential of multi‑engine transports and helped pave the transition from pre‑war biplanes to modern airliners. Today a handful of restored examples are displayed in Italian aviation museums, preserving the SM.95’s role as a bridge between transport concepts and jet age.
