Macchi M.C.72 world speed record

The Macchi M.C. 72 was an experimental seaplane designed and built by the Italian aircraft company Macchi Aeronautica.
It set a new world speed record (over water) on 10 April 1933, with a speed of 682 km/h (423.5 mph). It was piloted by Warrant Officer Francesco Agello (the last qualified test pilot). Not satisfied, development continued as the aircraft's designers thought they could break 700 km/h (434.7 mph) with the M.C. 72. This feat was in fact achieved on 23 October 1934, when Agello piloted the M.C. 72 for an average speed of 709.2 km/h (440.7 mph) over three passes. This record remains (as of 2016) the fastest speed ever attained by a piston-engine seaplane.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_...
footages from Aeronautica Militare

[@paulmaxwell8851]

An odd observation: see the engine start at 0:07. One propeller turns and as the engine starts, exhaust is emitted from only the rearmost six ports. Then at 0:10 the other propeller turns and you can see it falter, then suddenly 'catch' as exhaust blasts from the forward six ports. It appears to me that this engine is two highly modified V-12s mated together and able to run independently. Wikipedia seems to verify this, calling it a 24 cylinder, coupled V12 liquid-cooled piston engine putting out some 2,800 hp! That would be very impressive for 2024, let alone 1933. The Italians should be very proud.

[@johnwayne1464]

Still holds the record for the fastest seaplane at 440 mph to this day.

[@dutyhole1734]

AMAZING THEY DID THIS BACK IN 1933 OUTSTANDING !!

[@ZemplinTemplar]

I bought a model kit of one just recently. A remarkable interwar sportsplane ! :-)

[@panda2309]

Thanks for this video. I'm really in love with this plane.

[@wernerschulte6245]

Dangerous and cool, no exhaust pipes, must have been a little bit louder than usual aircrafts ! My question is: how fast could this plane have been without those big floaters ?

[@UsefulAlien]

When nations proudly competed with their advanced technology, in an atmosphere of peace.

[@LeoMkII]

That was a hot minute before WW2 lol

[@paoloviti6156]

A truly beautiful racehorse. I think whole lake of Garda must have heard the screaming sound of the powerful engine! Would have loved to hear it going full blast...

[@bruceboatwright7488]

Always interested in this beautiful airplane, I hadn't seen its support vessel before. Thank you for putting this together and sharing it with us. I also bought and have built a 1/48 scale model of this magnificent machine. It was a challenge.

[@philipberry6477]

Terrific clip.

[@odisseo183]

A spitfire with boots

[@matheusmoreiraleaodesouzam6124]

Plane from Sonoka Watarai in Senyoko no Sigrdrifa.