4 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Savoia-Marchetti SM.81: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
- 2. Italian SM. 81 Pipistrello bombers in formation: Unknown author Unknown author· CC BY 4.0
- 3. SIAI SM.81 Pipistrello - Russia 1942: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
- 4. SM.81 Pipistrello: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
what is it?
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (Italian: bat) was the first three-engine bomber–transport aircraft serving in the Italian Regia Aeronautica. When it appeared in 1935, it was fast, well armed and had a long range. It proved effective during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War and the Spanish Civil War.
How to recognise it: 3 piston engines with propellers · low wing · fixed tailwheel (taildragger) · 24 m wingspan
base stats
Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).
fun facts
- First flew 92 years ago, in 1934.
- Top speed is 2.6× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- Wingspan of 24 m: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
- Range of 1,500 km: 8× Amsterdam to Brussels.
piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.
spec sheet
- first flight
- 1934
- introduced
- 1935
- retired
- 1950
- status
- retired
- number built
- 534
- role
- bomber and transport aircraft
- origin
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- makers
- Piaggio, SIAI-Marchetti
- engines
- 3× Alfa Romeo 125 R.C.35 / Piaggio P.X RC.15
- crew
- 6
- length
- 18.3 m
- wingspan
- 24 m
- height
- 4.3 m
- max take-off weight
- 10.5 t
- top speed
- 340 km/h
- cruise speed
- 260 km/h
- range
- 1,500 km
- ceiling
- 7,000 m
- wings
- low wing
- landing gear
- fixed conventional landing gear
Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q673449, Wikipedia: Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.