Macchi M.15

{{Short description|Italian reconnaissance aircraft}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Macchi M.15 | logo = | logo_size = | image = Macchi M.15 Aerofan.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Reconnaissance aircraft and trainer | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = Italy | manufacturer = Macchi | design_group = | designer = Ing Alessandro Tonini and {{nowrap|Ing Piero Bergonzi}} | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = Italy | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 20 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = 1918-1922 | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1918 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} 300px|right|thumb The '''Macchi M.15''' was an Italian reconnaissance aircraft, bomber and trainer, designed by Alessandro Tonini and Piero Bergonzi and built by Macchi.

==Design and development==

The M.15, which first flew in 1918,{{sfn|Apostolo|2013|page=124}} was a two-seat biplane with wings of unequal span, its upper wing being of wider span than its lower wing. Its interplane struts were inclined in a "V" configuration. Its 238-kilowatt (320-horsepower) Fiat A.12 engine drove a two-bladed propeller in a tractor configuration and gave it a top speed of 185 kilometers per hour (115 miles per hour). It had fixed landing gear.<ref>[http://www.aerei-italiani.net/SchedeT/aereomacchim15.htm Aerei Italiani Macchi M.15] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617001601/http://www.aerei-italiani.net/SchedeT/aereomacchim15.htm |date=2011-06-17 }}.</ref> The ''Macchi M.15 Bis per trasporto passeggeri'' was a three-seat passenger transport with similar attributes to the M.15 that appeared from 1922,<ref name=JAWA1919>{{cite book |last=Gey |first=C.G. |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1919 |edition=Facsimile |year=1969 |publisher=David & Charles (Publishers) Limited |location=London |isbn=07153 4647 4 |page=392a}}</ref> in the same year also a new reconnaissance version was released, simply called ''M.15 Bis''.{{sfn|Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi|1922|}} No more than 20 examples of all the models were built. ==Operational History== By December 1919, three aircraft were in service with the Regio Esercito.{{sfn|Ferrari|2005|page=28}}

In 1922, the M.15 were assigned to the 115th Squadron of the ''Corpo Aeronautico Militare'' (Royal Army's Air Corps) based in Bologna, part of the 15th Group stationed in Padua.{{sfn|Curami|1981a|page=7}} In 1922 the order for 12 aircraft was placed.{{sfn|Gentilli|2022|page=13}} On 22 September 1923, one M.15 from the squadron was lost in an accident, resulting in the death of a crew member.{{sfn|Gentilli|2022|page=241}}

In 1923, the Bis version was registered for testing by the ''Direzione Superiore del Genio e delle Costruzioni Aeronautiche'' (Directorate of Engineering and Aeronautical Construction).{{sfn|Curami|1981a|page=8}} After the establishment of the Regia Aeronautica, on 1 January 1924 18 aircraft were registered for assignment to the 30th and 115th Squadrons, which had not yet been established.{{sfn|Curami|1981a|page=7}} In May 1924 an M.15 Bis was used by Prospero Freri for experimental launches with the parachute of his invention at Montecelio.{{sfn|Gentilli|2022|pages=36, 37}} In a subsequent summary of the planes in service dated 1 January 1925 no M.15 appears to have been used in reconnaissance units.{{sfn|Curami|1981a|page=10}} Despite this, three examples of M.15 Bis were still in service for experiments in 1928.{{sfn|Curami|1981b|page=5}} ==Variants== * '''M.15''': First reconnaissance version designed in 1918, characterised by a very inclined fin and an ovoid-shaped radiator.{{sfn|Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi|1918|}} * '''M.15 Bis per trasporto passeggeri''': Civilian version designed in 1919, equipped with a closed cabin for two passengers.{{sfn|Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi|1919|}} * '''M.15 Bis''': Second reconnaissance version appeared in 1922, it was distinguished from the original M.15 by the curved profile of the fin and the different engine cowling, with a square-shaped radiator.{{sfn|Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi|1922|}} ==Operators== ;{{flag|Kingdom of Italy}} *Corpo Aeronautico Militare *Regia Aeronautica

==Specifications (M.15)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=<ref name=JAWA1919/> |prime units? = met |crew=two |length m=8.57 |length ft=28 |length in=1.4 |span m=13.47 |span ft=44 |span in=2.3 |height m=3.37 |height ft=11 |height in=0.67 |wing area sqm=42.00 |wing area sqft=452.07 |empty weight kg=1,230 |empty weight lb=2,712 |gross weight kg=1,743 |gross weight lb=3,843 |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Fiat A.12 |eng1 kw=238 |eng1 hp=320 |max speed kmh=185 |max speed mph=115 |range km=600 |range miles=373 |ceiling m=6,000 |ceiling ft= |armament = * 1 x 0.303 in Vickers cal. 7,7 fixed forward-firing synchronized machine gun{{sfn|Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi|1918|}}{{sfn|Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi|1922|}} *2 x 6.5 mm Fiat Mod.14 Avio machine guns: 1 in the dorsal position, 1 in the ventral position.{{sfn|Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi|1918|}}{{sfn|Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi|1922|}} }}

==See also== {{aircontent |see also= |related= |sequence= |similar aircraft= * Aero A.11 * Ansaldo SVA.10 * Fiat R.2 * Letov Š-6 |lists= * List of Interwar military aircraft }}

==Notes== {{reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} * {{cite book |last=Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi|date=1918|title=Disegno N.15000 - M.15 Biplano da ricognizione |location=Varese |access-date=}} * {{cite book |last=Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi|date=1919|title=Disegno N.15002bis - M.15bis Biplano per trasporto passeggeri |location=Varese |access-date=}} * {{cite book |last=Aeroplani Nieuport-Macchi|date=1922|title=Disegno N.15001A- M.15bis Biplano da ricognizione|location=Varese |access-date=}} * {{cite book |last=Apostolo |first=Giorgio |date=2013 |title=Ali tricolori, Parte 1: 1910-1922|publisher=Storia Militare |access-date=}} * {{cite book |last=Ferrari |first=Massimo |date=2005 |title=Le ali del ventennio: l'aviazione italiana dal 1923 al 1945|publisher=Franco Angeli |access-date=}} * {{cite book |last=Gentilli |first=Roberto |date=2022 |title=1923-1926, L'aviazione italiana prima di Balbo |publisher=IBN Editore |access-date=}} * {{cite journal |last=Curami |first=Andrea |title=Appunti sull'aviazione italiana negli anni '20 - Gli aerei da ricognizione 1ª parte|journal=Aerofan Magazine|issue=1|year=1981a}} * {{cite journal |last=Curami |first=Andrea |title=Appunti sull'aviazione italiana negli anni '20 - Gli aerei da ricognizione 2ª parte|journal=Aerofan Magazine|issue=2|year=1981b}} {{refend}}

==References== {{commons category|Macchi M.15}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110617001601/http://www.aerei-italiani.net/SchedeT/aereomacchim15.htm Aerei Italiani Macchi M.15]

Category:1920s Italian military reconnaissance aircraft Category:1920s Italian military trainer aircraft M.15 Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1922 Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear