NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
The Macchi Castoldi MC-72 flew to become the fastest propeller driven sea plane ever on October 23, 1933, with the still standing record speed of 440.68 mph.
In 1928 Macchi Aeronautica hired the talented young designer Giovanni Diliberto to work with Mario Castoldi in their design department. The Macchi Castoldi MC-72 became their design project for the company, first as a racer and eventually as a world record achiever.
The twin engine design incorporated into the Macchi Castoldi MC-72 was actually the second project engineered by Diliberto. The first was a 1/4 scale prototype of the design concept, simply a smaller version of what was to become the MC-72.
The engine arrangement may seem unusual by today's standards, but worked surprisingly well. Castoldi praised Diliberto for his resourcefulness.
Two Fiat V-12 engines were linked together, one behind the other. A shaft from the rear engine ran through the front engine and on through it's hollow drive shaft to power the front propeller in one direction. The front engine powered the rear propeller in the opposite direction.
While the aircraft could be a hand full for novice pilots, more experienced pilots praised the Macchi Castoldi MC-72 for its speed, responsiveness, and directional stability. The Macchi Castoldi MC-72 remains a winner to this date.
racer
one
Fiat AS.6 V-24
2,850 hp
27' 4"
31' 10"
5,512 lbs.
6,669 lbs.
n/a
440 mph
n/a
n/a
n/a
1931
MC-72 nose.
Francesco Angello, record setting pilot.
Radio Control Airplane
1/4 Scale rc MC-72.
Radio Control Airplanes
Pictured above and below is the magnificent rc MC-72 from John Rapillo. The radio control airplane is 1/4 scale with a 93.5" wing span and weighs 43 lbs. Power comes from a Sachs-Dolmer 5.8 cid engine.
You can find plans for the 75" wingspan rc MC-72 in the second picture below at Scale RC Models.com. It has a length of 64". Recommended power is a 3.0 to 3.6 engine.
John Rapillo and his RC MC-72.