Question about Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero Data Plate

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procpilot
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Question about Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero Data Plate

Post by procpilot » Sun Sep 10, 2023 10:56 pm

Hello!

I was directed here to ask a question about this item: a data plate for shock absorbers supposedly from a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero - the bomber workhorse of the Regia Aeronautica.

Image

Apologies for the picture quality. If you need better pictures, please mention it in the comments.

I am wondering two things about this plate:

-Could we tell if this is from a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero? If so, could we tell which variant it came from? The Italians made a few versions of this plane after all.

-There is a number to the side: 31274. Could this be the serial number of the plane? I looked up surviving Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero bombers in the world and it seems to match the numbering: 24327, for example - https://www.airhistory.net/photo/171382/MM24327.

Unfortunately, sources for the Regia Aeronautica are scant in my country, so any expert assistance would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Re: Question about Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero Data Plate

Post by Editor » Mon Sep 11, 2023 2:12 pm

The plate says the following:

Ammortizzatore
Tipo 79-0020 no 31274
Manutenzione
Tenere l’asta del pistone
Pulita ed ingrassata
Altezza normale misurata
Dalla base del cilindro all’indico
Sul’asta del piston
XXX / XXX m/p
In caso di altezza anormale seguire
le istruzioni della regolazione
Livello del liquid
GONFIARE SOLO AD ARIA COMPRESE
____

Shock absorber
Type 79-0020 no 31274
Maintenance
Hold the piston rod
Cleaned and greased
Normal height measured
from the base of the cylinder to the index
on the piston rod
XXX / XXX m/p
In case of abnormal height follow
the adjustment instructions
fluid level
INFLATE ONLY WITH COMPRESSED AIR
___

Serial Numbers of Italian military aircraft (MM matricole militare) were usually applied or stenciled on the exterior rear fuselage. If a serial number or a part number was printed on a plate it usually referred to the part itself, for example on engine plates. But here are the MMs for the S.79:

Manu Plane Type Number MM begin MM end
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 12 21627 21638
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 8 21681 21688
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 24 21730 21753
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 51 21790 21840
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 16 21850 21865
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 16 21930 21945
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 19 21982 22000
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 24 22009 22032
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 24 22033 22056
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 14 22057 22070
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 40 22071 22110
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 8 22111 22118
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 8 22119 22126
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 16 22127 22142
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 45 22163 22207
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 28 22208 22235
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 12 22268 22279
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 79 22283 22361
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 20 22546 22565
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 10 22566 22575
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 10 22576 22585
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 15 22586 22600
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 6 22789 22794
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 8 23827 23834
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 24 23838 23861
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 16 23862 23877
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 10 23878 23887
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 14 23888 23901
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 40 23935 23974
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 26 24076 24101
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 12 24152 24163
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 14 24164 24177
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 30 24210 24239
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 15 24300 24314
SIAI Sm.79 Bomber 50 24479 24528
SIAI Sm.79 bis Bomber 20 24327 24346
SIAI Sm.79 bis Bomber 4 24347 24350
SIAI Sm.79 bis Bomber 25 24559 24583
SIAI Sm.79 bis Bomber 32 25366 25397
SIAI Sm.79 bis Bomber 25 45504 45528

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Re: Question about Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero Data Plate

Post by procpilot » Mon Sep 11, 2023 10:13 pm

Thank you so much for the handy info!

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