SIAI-Marchetti

The Societa Idrovolanti Alta Italia (S.I.A.I.) was formed in 1915 initially to build French flying-boats under license. The S.I.A.I. S.8 a two-seat equal-span biplane flying boat first flown in 1917. The S.I.A.I. S.8 was a reconnaissance and anti-submarine flying-boat with a 170 h.p. Isotta-Fraschini V4B engine, allowing it to achieve 88 mph. It has 2 machine guns mounted.

SIAI was renamed to SAVOIA (when SIAI purchased SAVOIA) and again to SAVOIA-Marchetti when chief designer Alessandro Marchetti joined the company in 1922.

SAVOIA-Marchetti began to develop a reputation for successful S.55 flying boat. However, most of SAVOIA-Marchetti’s manufacturing capabilities were destroyed in World War Two. The company was renamed SIAI-Marchetti after the war. SIAI-Marchetti began to focus increasingly on helicopters in the 1970. It was eventually purchased by Agusta, an Italian helicopter manufacturer, in 1983. 

The last and one of it major project was the SIAI-Marchetti S.211, a turbofan trainer.

In 1997, SIAI-Marchetti was absorb by another Italian Aerospace Company - Alenia Aermacchi.

Updated On: 18.10.15