The SIA 7B was a

biplane A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...

reconnaissance-bomber built by the

Società Italiana Aviazione Fiat Aviazione was an Italian aircraft manufacturer, at one time part of the Fiat group, focused mainly on military aviation. After World War I, Fiat consolidated several Italian small aircraft manufacturers, like Pomilio and Ansaldo. Most famo ...

and served with the Italian ''

Corpo Aeronautico Militare The Italian Corpo Aeronautico Militare (Military Aviation Corps) was formed as part of the Regio Esercito (Royal Army) on 7 January 1915, incorporating the Aviators Flights Battalion (airplanes), the Specialists Battalion (airships) and the Ballon ...

'' and American Expeditionary Force in 1917.

Development

The engineers, Torretta and Carlo Maurilio Lerici of the

Fiat Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. (, , ; originally FIAT, it, Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino, lit=Italian Automobiles Factory of Turin) is an Italian automobile manufacturer, formerly part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and since 2021 a subsidiary ...

company, designed the airplane as a "Jack of all trades", its speed, climbing power, and carrying capacity enabled it to be used as a bomber and racer.Taylor, 2001, Page 207 It was built in the workshops of the Societa Italiano Aviazione, a sister company to the famous motor-car firm F.I.A.T. of Turin.Taylor, 2001, Page 207 It used the standard Italian structural feature of a plywood-covered fuselage.Swanborough & Bowers, 1964, page 559. The SIA.7B was accepted for the Italian Air Force in November 1917 and entered mass production. There were however revealed its shortcomings, like low wing structure durability and poor view. Next variant SIA.7B2, developed in December 1917, had strengthened wings, slightly raised cockpits and stronger engine. Another variant, built in February 1918, was the SIA 9 with stronger 700 hp engine. There were built 501 SIA.7B, 71 SIA.7B2 and 62 SIA.9B.SIA.7(9) at Ugolok Neba

Operational history

The SIA.7 family aircraft were used for reconnaissance and bombing raids on Austro-Italian front. The SIA.7B2 entered service in March 1918. The SIA.9 managed to take part in World War I service as well. Because of unsatisfactory durability, from July 1918 SIA.7B and 7В2 were moved to training units. In 1917, the Italian government sent a pair of SIA 7B-1 aircraft to the United States for evaluation under a plan to mass-produce established European designs. The 7B-1 was not put into production in the US but 19 were bought in Italy for use by A.E.F. units sent there.

Variants

;SIA 7B1: main reconnaissance-bomber variant ;SIA 7B2: improved reconnaissance-bomber variant ;SIA R2: scout-bomber built in 1918, span 12.32 m (40 ft 5 in), length 8.75 M (28 ft 8 in), height 3.3 m (120 ft 10 in), speed 180 km/h (111.8 mph)Taylor, 2001, Page 207 ;SIA 9B: two-seat reconnaissance-bomber 700 hp (522 kW)

Fiat A.14 The Fiat A.14 was an Italian 12-cylinder, liquid-cooled, V aero engine of World War I. The A.14 held the distinction at the end of World War I of being the largest and most powerful aircraft engine in the world. First produced in 1917, 500 were ...

engineTaylor, 2001, Page 207

Operators

; *

American Expeditionary Forces The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought alo ...

received 19 7B-1 in February 1917, used at Foggia, Italy.Fahey, 1946, page 12

Specifications (7B)

References

External links

SIA.7(9) at Ugolok Neba
{{Portal bar, Italy, Companies, Aviation 1910s Italian military reconnaissance aircraft Military aircraft of World War I Aircraft first flown in 1917 Biplanes Single-engined tractor aircraft