| Italy still holds
the World absolute speed record, which was set up on Oct. 23rd, 1934,
when Lieut. Agello covered a 3 km. course in two directions at an
average speed of 440.67 m.p.h. The machine was the Macchi-Castoldi
M.C. float seaplane, powered by a Fiat A.S.6 24 cylinder liquid cooled
motor boosted to give 3,100 h.p. It drove two airscrews on concentric
shafts in opposite directions, one in front of the other. The seaplane
was originally built for the 1931 Schneider Trophy Contest, but was
not ready at that time. The loaded weight was about 8,000 lb. and
the wing span about 35 ft. The speed record has stood for nearly four
years but there are signs that it will be broken before very long. |
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