SIAI S.16



The SIAI S.16 was an Italian passenger flying boat, later used a military reconnaissance-bomber, claimed to be the most successful flying-boat of the 1920s.

Design and development
The first flying boat designed by the Societa Idrovolanti Alta Italia (SIAI) for use as a civilian passenger carrier, the S.13 was a biplane flying boat with room for five passengers. The S.16 was powered by a single Fiat A.12bis engine. Military versions were also developed with a bow cockpit for an observer-gunner and bomb racks fitted underneath the wings. The military version was sold to Brazil, Soviet Union, Spain and Turkey.

Variants

 * S.16
 * Production passenger carrier powered by a Fiat A.12bis engine.


 * S.16bis
 * Improved civilian variant with reinforced hull, increased fuel capacity and a larger propeller.


 * S.16bis M
 * Military version of the S.16bis with bow cockpit, Soviet-operated versions (80 aircraft) were designated by them the S-16bis, some were licence-built in Spain.


 * S.16ter
 * Improved military variant first used by the Italian Navy from 1924, powered by a Lorraine-Dietrich 12Db vee piston engine.


 * S.23
 * Simplified variant for training, one built.

Operators



 * Brazilian Navy (15)
 * Spanish Navy (26 including 10 built locally)
 * Kingdom of Italy
 * Regia Marina (~103)
 * Latvian Navy (6)
 * Turkish Air Force (12)
 * Soviet Navy (80)
 * Latvian Navy (6)
 * Turkish Air Force (12)
 * Soviet Navy (80)
 * Soviet Navy (80)
 * Soviet Navy (80)