| Macchi M.8 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Reconnaissance/bomber flying boat Type of aircraft |
| National origin | Italy |
| Manufacturer | Macchi |
| Designer | Alessandro Tonini |
| First flight | 1917 |
| Primary user | Italian Navy Aviation |
| Number built | 57 |
TheMacchi M.8 was an Italianreconnaissance/bomberflying boat designed byAlessandro Tonini and built byMacchi. It was used by the Italian Naval Aviation and was later flown by crews from theUnited States Navy.
The M.8 was similar to earlier flying boat designs from the company but introduced new rigid wing bracing (orinterplane struts). The hull was improved from earlier designs and the tail unit was similar to that developed for theM.7. It was abiplane flying boat with the pilot and co-pilot in a side-by-side opencockpit with a further open cockpit forward of them for an observer. The third cockpit was fitted with amachine gunring and there was access inside the hull between the cockpits. The M.8 was powered by a singleIsotta-Fraschini V.4Bpusher engine mounted below the upper wing.
A total of 57 aircraft were built between 1917 and 1918 and were used for coastal reconnaissance and to attack enemysubmarines. AfterWorld War I, a number of surviving aircraft were used atseaplane flying schools forinstruction.
Data from[1]
General characteristics
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