Macchi M.24

The Macchi M.24 was a flying boat produced in Italy during the 1920s. Originally intended as a bomber, it was eventually produced for civilian use as well. The M.24 resembled a scaled-up version of earlier Macchi flying boat bombers such as the M.9 and M.18, sharing their biplane configuration and Warren truss-style interplane struts. However, while these earlier aircraft were single-engine types, the M.24 had twin engines mounted in a tractor-pusher pair on struts in the interplane gap. Also like the M.18, it featured an open position in the bow for a gunner, but added a second such position amidships as well.

Two M.24s made a demonstration flight in 1925 from Macchi's home on Lake Varese, crossing the Alps to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Leningrad and home again. This feat was followed by torpedo-launching experiments. The M.24 saw extensive use with the Italian Navy, and several were purchased by the Spanish Navy.

A civil version with equal-span wings was developed in 1927 as the M.24bis. This featured an enclosed cabin within the forward hull that could seat eight passengers. Aero Espresso flew these on its Brindisi-Athens-Constantinople route, and SITA operated them on routes in the Mediterranean as well.

Variants

 * M.24 - initial production version - sesquiplane with Fiat A.12 engines
 * M.24bis - equal-span version with Lorraine-Dietrich or Isotta-Fraschini Asso engines, produced in both military and civil subtypes
 * M.24ter - military sesquiplane version with Isotta-Fraschini Asso engines