Savoia-Marchetti S.62bis

The Savoia-Marchetti S.62 bis flying boat

The S.62 flying boat was based on the SIAI S.16 flying boat, which had been designed in 1919. The S.16 flew several exceptional long-range raids, the most impressive one being that of 1925, when it flew from Italy to Australia and Japan, and back home. In the same year, the an improved version , the S.59 was produced. It was basically the S.16 with a bigger, 510 HP Isotta-Fraschini engine.

By 1927 , the Romanian navy had become interested in flying boats, as the Soviet navy was very active, and Soviet hydroplanes were flying all over the Black Sea. The first attempts to counter the Russians were made in 1925, when the prototype of the Romanian designed "Getta" hydroplane flew for the first time. The "Getta" was based on an ex-Austro-Hungarian Hansa Brandenburg hydroplane, captured from Hungary in 1919. It took off for the first time on the 25th of August 1925, during Romania's "Navy Day", but its performance was modest at best. The hydroplane's handling characteristics were pretty good, but top speed was just 160 km/h, with an endurance of 8 hours. In the end, three more "Getta"' were completed to be used for training .

All Getta's were powered by 220 HP "Austro-Daimler" or "Hiero" engines taken from Austrian hydroplanes captured during the first world war. The Navy's next choice was the S.59 bis flying boat , designed in 1927 and exported in several countries, including Romania, who purchased 12 S.59 bis in that year.

All the S.59's were destined to equip the newly-created "Hydroaviation Flotilla", but the only four S.59's had been delivered by late 1928. Meanwhile, the Savoia-Marchetti company had improved the S.59, creating the S.62 flying boat. Basically, the S.62 was the S.59 with improved aerodynamics : the wings were cleaned up, making the hydroplane lighter and easier to fly. From 1930 onwards, the S.62 bis reconnaissance / light bomber version, which had a more powerful engine entered production and was successfully exported. Romania ordered 14 S.62 bis hydroplanes, powered by the new Asso 850 HP engine, all of which were received by 1932. In 1936, the Ministry of Air and Navy, requested the Romanian IAR and ICAR companies to manufacture 5 more S.62 bises, destined to replace those lost due to "wear and tear". ICAR manufactured the wings, floats and several other parts, IAR works built the hulls, whilst the final assembly was done at the workshops of STC-Constanta. The distinctive element of hydroplanes built in Romania was the wingtip, which was more rounded than the Italian ones.

The Savoia-Marchetti S.62 bis hydroplane

The 5 all-silver S.62 bises entered service with the Hydroaviation Flotilla in 1938, but one was lost in an accident the same year. Following another accident in 1940, when several S.62's were lost when they tried to land in bad weather, the Italian S.62 bises were withdrawn from action in 1941, whilst the Romanian ones remained in service until 1943, when they were replaced by Heinkel He-114's.

Technical data of the Savoia-Marchetti S.62 bis

Wingspan	16.66 meters
Length	12.16 meters
Height	4.19 meters
Weight (empty)	2840 kg
Weight (loaded)	4300 kg
Cruising speed	180 km/h
Maximum speed	220 km/h
Climbs to 3000 meters	19 minutes
Maximum operational ceiling	4900 meters
Range	2000 km
Engine	Isotta Fraschini Asso rated at 750 HP
Armament	Two or four 7.7 machine guns
Payload	Up to 400 kg of bombs ( 8 x 50 kg )
Crew	3-4
Numbers received and built	19
Serial numbers	1-19

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