3 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Savoia Marchetti S.59: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
- 2. Savoia Marchetti S.59bis: Unknown author Unknown author· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 3. Savoia-Marchetti S.59, maqueta: Roberto Fiadone· CC BY-SA 4.0
what is it?
The Savoia-Marchetti S.59 was a 1920s Italian reconnaissance/bomber flying boat designed and built by Savoia-Marchetti for the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force).
How to recognise it: 1 engine · 15.5 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 101 years ago, in 1925.
- Top speed is 1.5× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- Wingspan of 15.5 m: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.
spec sheet
- first flight
- 1925
- introduced
- 1926
- number built
- 240
- role
- reconnaissance/bomber flying boat
- makers
- SIAI-Marchetti
- engines
- 1× Isotta Fraschini Asso 500 Vee piston engine
- crew
- 2
- length
- 10.4 m
- wingspan
- 15.5 m
- height
- 3.5 m
- max take-off weight
- 2,950 kg
- top speed
- 200 km/h
- range
- —
- ceiling
- 4,550 m
Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q3797084, Wikipedia: Savoia-Marchetti S.59 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.