Fiat C.29
The Fiat C.29 was a racing seaplane designed by Celestino Rosatelli and built in the late-1920s by Fiat Aviazione for the 1929 Schneider Trophy air race.
It first flew in early June 1929, the twin-float monoplane racer was reported to be laterally unstable. Unusually, the wing structure featured a wooden spar but was skinned with aluminium alloy sheeting. The aircraft used the 1010 hp Fiat AS.5 V-12 engine, specifically designed for this aircraft to minimise frontal area.
On 12 June 1929, Test Pilot Francesco Agello hit the wash of a boat whilst landing causing the first prototype, works number 129, to bounce in the air, stall and dive vertically into the water. Agello was rescued unharmed after being thrown out of the cockpit. The second prototype, 130, was quickly completed, this aircraft having larger tail surfaces to correct the stability problems.
On 12 August 1929, whilst demonstrating the aircraft, the second prototype was written off after sinking back onto the water on its third attempt at a takeoff, Agello was uninjured, but the aircraft was destroyed, the engine sank to the bottom of Lake Garda.
Italo Balbo ordered a third aircraft to be built, 130bis, and sent directly to England without being test-flown for the approaching Schneider Trophy competition. The C.29 did appear at RAF Calshot but did not fly during the competition, the Italian team placing second, fourth and sixth using Macchi M.52 and M.67 racers. The third and sole remaining C.29 is on display at the Italian Air Force Museum.
[attachment deleted by admin]