The Edison MC-72

[grwebster]

Edison of Italy did a very good range of aircraft in the 60s-70s (? have forgotten the exact date range, anyone have them?)
One of most interesting ones is the MACCHI CASTOLDI M.C. 72 seaplane racer.




The history of the aircraft itself is quite amazing. It was powered by 2 Fiat 12 cylinder engines, each turning one propeller.
Due to need for speed the normal use frontal radiators were eliminated and flat radiators were placed all over the fuselage and floats.
There were three built to compete in the Schneider Cup seaplane races but none ended up racing.
Mussolini, to save face, insisted on pushing the development of the airplane to gather publicity for the growing Italian aircraft industry.
2 MC-72s had crashed in development, but the third eventually went on to break the speed record for a piston engine seaplane of 400 kilometers per hour in 1933! {Note this was an error,see Richards post below, the record established was over 700 km/h- 709.2 in fact- which is 440 Miles per hour!}
This is still the record today.

[richardstarr]

GR, This is most informative. You know a ton of stuff about airplanes.
I can always learn from reading your excellent articles and recollections.

I think that this MACCHI CASTOLDI seaplane actually exceeded 700 kilometers
per hour. Your EDISON clear box is superb, as are all your other EDISON AIRPLANES.
I have only the Reissued version, which I was overjoyed to find.

Out of 1000 pages you have written, I think this is the only correction, and
it is indeed trivial.
I wish I had bought more DINKY TOY and EDISON airplanes when I was stationed at RAF BENTWATERS/
RAF WOODBRIDGE in Suffolk.
Regards, RICHARD STARR

[grwebster]

Thanks for pointing out the error, Richard. You are quite right and I corrected the post.I still think in MPH and not Km/h so it was missed.