SM.82 | |
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Savoia Marchetti SM.82 at the Italian Air Force Museum | |
Role | Heavy bomber/transport |
Manufacturer | Savoia-Marchetti |
First flight | 1939 |
Introduction | 1940 |
Retired | After 1960 |
Primary users | Regia Aeronautica Luftwaffe Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana Aeronautica Militare |
Produced | 1939–1944 |
Number built | 726 + 1 prototype [1] |
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 Marsupiale[2] is an Italian bomber and transport aircraft of World War II. It was a cantilever, mid-wing monoplane trimotor with a retractable, tailwheel undercarriage. There were 875[3] (plus one prototype) built, the first entering service in 1940. Although able to operate as a bomber with a maximum bombload of up to 8,818 lb (4000 kg), the SM.82 saw very limited use in this role.[4] The SM.82 was the foreign aircraft used in largest number by the Luftwaffe, which operated several hundreds of this aircraft, as a transport.[3] Post-war about 30 SM.82s continued in service with the Aeronautica Militare Italiana, many remaining in service until the early 1960s.[5]