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The Savoia-Pomilio SP.4 was a reconnaissance and bomber aircraft built in Italy during the First World War.Taylor 1989, p.793 It was a further development of the family of designs that had started with the SP.1. Ultimately all of these took their basic configuration from the Farman MF.11: a biplane with twin tails and a fuselage nacelle that accommodated the crew and a pusher-mounted engine.The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft p.2897 However, the SP.4 differed both from its Farman antecedent and the previous Savoia-Pomilio designs by featuring twin engines mounted in the interplane gap in place of the single engine in the nacelle. Removing the engine from this position allowed a second machine gun to be placed there instead.
Apart from their intended role as a reconnaissance aircraft and bomber, some SP.4s were used to insert spies and saboteurs behind enemy lines.The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft p.2898 A further development designated SP.5 remained unbuilt by the end of the war."Savoja-Pomilio S.p.4"
Operators
Corpo Aeronautico Militare
Specifications
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