Macchi M39

Specifications Macchi M39 blueprint

The Macchi M39 was an Italian radial-engined biplane fighter, which operated within the Regia Aeronautica from 1926 until its retirement in the summer of 1938. The aircraft was primarily designed by Mario Castoldi and was the first all-metal, cantilever-winged fighter to be used by the Italian air force. The Macchi M39 had a gentle curved shape, and featured a single-seat cockpit located within the nose of the aircraft. The biplane was fitted with a SPA 5A 1,000 horsepower radial engine, which was capable of propelling the M39 to a speed of approximately 218 mph (351 km/h), giving it a top speed of 164 knots (300 km/h). The Macchi M39 featured a steel tube fuselage covered with thin sheet metal, with a fabric-covered wing and ailerons set lower than the stabilizers. Its wingspan was 22.8 feet (7 m), with a length of 21.5 feet (6.5 m). As well as a single-seat cockpit, the aircraft was equipped with a gun hatch that housed two machine guns which operated through the left side of the fuselage. The fighter had a maximum takeoff weight of 2,100 kg, and was equipped with a retractable tail wheel and rudder, as well as a fixed landing gear. The Macchi M39 was deployed in combat during the Spanish Civil War, and was seldom used by the Italian Air Force during the early stages of World War II. The introduction of more advanced fighter aircraft led to the retirement of the Macchi M39 in 1938, and the aircraft has become a symbol of Italian aviation and an inspiration for future generations of fighter aircraft design.