SIAI-Marchetti S.205

The SIAI-Marchetti S.205 is an Italian four-seat, single-engine, light airplane, manufactured by Savoia-Marchetti. The S.205 made its maiden flight in 1965. The Italian Air Force employs a version called S.208.

Development
The S.205 was the brainchild of the SIAI-Marchetti head designer Alexander Brena in 1964. Brena wanted to make a light, general-purpose aircraft, which led to the S.205. The aircraft was all-metal, low-winged, single-engined and provided space for four persons. Further development led into the S.208, which had a 260 hp engine, retractable landing gear, and 5 seats. Other planned, but never realized versions were the S.206 and S.210.

The first produced aircraft, the S.205-18F, flew in the February 1966 and deliveries began the following year. Production ceased in 1975, but between 1977 and 1980 a further 140 S.205-20Rs were produced to satisfy an order emitted from the Italian flying club AeroClub Italia.

Approximately 65 fuselages were transported to the United States, to be assembled in Syracuse, New York by the Waco Aircraft Company. Initially the aircraft was called WACO Sirrus (4 -seat) and later VELA S220 (5-seat), but with the death of Mr. Berger, the president of the company, the assembly of the S.205 came to a halt in the USA.

Operational history
The Italian Air Force acquired 45 aircraft for use as liaison, glider-towing, and training aircraft. The military version, called S.208M, differed from the civil version through its avionics, its two doors for the cockpit, the possibility to mount a hook to tow the gliders and the lack of some fuel tanks. The first 4 delivered aircraft were S.205s, but were later converted into S.208s.

Two aircraft were also sold to Tunisia, who used them for pilot training.

Variants

 * S.205: basic version, metal, single-engine four-seat airplane, the F version had a fixed undercarriage, while the R version had a retractable undercarriage. It was offered with three different engines:
 * S.205 F/R-18: Avco Lycoming O-360
 * S.205 F/R-20: Avco Lycoming IO-360-A1A
 * S.205 F/R-22: Franklin 6A-350C1


 * S.206: 6-seat version, never realized
 * S.208: 5-seat version with a 260 hp engine and a retractable undercarriage
 * S.208M: military version for the Italian Air Force
 * S.208AG: agricultural version, also used as an aviation-ambulance.
 * S.210: twin-engine version.

Civil
The aircraft has been registered in some 27 countries in Europe, Africa, the Americas and Australia.

Military

 * Italian Air Force
 * Tunisian Air Force
 * Italian Air Force
 * Tunisian Air Force
 * Tunisian Air Force