If It Can Fly, It Can Float!!!

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

---

I think so to Karl. I found another, a Douglas T-2D1.

 

[GrauGeist]

That's a submarine, must be !

Actually, would you believe it was designed to do that?

It's a Piaggio P.7 and was built during the years of speed records using floatplanes. The Piaggio tried to use a hydrofoil effect to eliminate the extra weight and drag of floats. So it had a water-prop and clutch system...with the water-prop pushing the plane up on it's hydrafoils, the main-prop was engaged and would (in theory) take off.

While it's speed and ability to rise up on it's hydrofoils proved impressive in the water, it never actually flew.

 

[rochie]

Actually, would you believe it was designed to do that?

It's a Piaggio P.7 and was built during the years of speed records using floatplanes. The Piaggio tried to use a hydrofoil effect to eliminate the extra weight and drag of floats. So it had a water-prop and clutch system...with the water-prop pushing the plane up on it's hydrafoils, the main-prop was engaged and would (in theory) take off.

While it's speed and ability to rise up on it's hydrofoils proved impressive in the water, it never actually flew.

No f####g way !

I honestly thought it was a floatplane racer that had just sunk !

Thanks Dave.

 

[fubar57]

---

I think so to Karl. I found another, a Douglas T-2D1.

Douglas sure built some butt ugly aircraft before the DC-3, one of my all-time favorites.

 

[Elmas]

Trials of Piaggio P7.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Thanks for the info on the Piaggio P-7 Dave, and thanks for the extra photos Elmas! Very cool.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Yeah thanks! I have only seen the one picture before.

 

[GrauGeist]

Elmas shared some great shots of the P.7, and here's one that shows the propellor/rudder assembly aft of the fuselage.

Also, if you look closely, you can see the hydrofoils, although they seem small in this photo, they were fairly large. They had to make the hydrofoils effective enough in the water and remain aerodynamic at the same time, so the radius was inward, 90° to the centerline.

 

[Elmas]

More about P7

Piaggio Pegna P.C.7 | La Coupe Schneider / The Schneider Trophy

 

[Capt. Vick]

Wow. And THAT is why I love this site.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Elmas]

This is Fiat....

Fiat C29 then...

and now...

 

[Elmas]

from

pegna

 

[Wurger]

 

[Gnomey]

Good stuff guys!

 

[rochie]

More about P7

Piaggio Pegna P.C.7 | La Coupe Schneider / The Schneider Trophy

View attachment 297377

View attachment 297378

View attachment 297379

That is just about the coolest thing I have seen !

 

[johnbr]

 

[johnbr]

 

[Wurger]

 

[Capt. Vick]

More great stuff!