The Fastest Seaplane in the World [Propeller] - M.C. 72

The MC.72 is the fastest propeller-driven single engined seaplane in the world, a record it holds since 1934.
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[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

The M.C.72 is the *fastest propeller-driven single engined seaplane* in the world, a record it holds since 1934. Here we are having a look at this terrifc aircraft. Also, a *BIG thank you* to my Patreons! I bought a new recording device for future museum trips just a few days ago! *To support my channel, click here* -> www.patreon.com/Bismarck

[@turbowolf302]

Setting up a Paypal.me account is fairly easy and straight forward, Bis. I'm only suggesting it because another viewer expressed interest in a one time donation. I'd probably donate, too. My own finances can be prohibitive at times for me to do steady monthly donations, but there are always times where my finances leave me comfortable enough for me to be more than willing to donate money to content creators I like, such as yourself.

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Hey, thanks for the message. Following it, I double-checked the Paypal link I had in the description and it seems it had become invalid...! I set up a proper link now. Thanks a lot :)

[@captiannemo1587]

What is not mentioned in your video is the altitude at which the MC.72 preformed its record... which is something worth mentioning... Since it would have been "on the deck".

[@wingnutgaming_uk99]

Bismarck who is the person behind the camera???

[@ilikemorestuff]

Great vlog Bismark! Amazing engineering and workmanship in that plane .. really interesting :)

[@2236gaming]

Beautiful machines, I love hydroplanes since I watched Porco Rosso.

[@straymutt2504]

2236gaming. I love that movie so much. Every now and then I'll watch it

[@MassacSWE]

05:31 If I'm not mistaken I think Porcos plane, or its inspiration, is seen behind the MC. :)

[@maciek_k.cichon]

Massac Productions Porco's plane was to be Savoia S.21 and there's a model kit of it! There is of Curtiss racer from the movie and M.C.72 too!

[@sledgemain6230]

Maciek K. Cichoń no This is a plane of his friend that helped him escape milano

[@mogaman28]

Maciek K. Cichoń but porco's plane is in fact based in the MC 33

[@martentrudeau6948]

Italian's and speed is a classic combination.

[@marcothommen2484]

And she is red, which figures too! ;)

[@NoBorda29]

❤️🇮🇹

[@JohnJohansen2]

And food and wine.👍

[@vernongoodey5096]

Yes true but it was the British that kept the trophy after the beautiful Supermarine seaplane won the race three times in a row with a prototype RR Merlin that later went into the Spitfire, Lancaster, Mosquito & MUSTANG P51.

[@johnnovak7561]

Can't believe you did a video on the M.C.72, it's my favorite plane! It is not only a beautiful aircraft, it is also a masterpiece.

[@_datapoint]

Interesting story. It still blows my mind that those prop planes went that fast in those days. Thanks!

[@thomasholaday674]

it's such an amazing design i wonder what would have happened if they fixed those design problems and then turned this thing into a fighter

[@m0ther_bra1ned12]

The Italians make some of the most beautiful machines. Airplanes, cars... gorgeous...

[@spitfirejme]

and women too.. don´t forget...

[@m0ther_bra1ned12]

hahaha this is true. XD

[@zwillia.s1432]

What about tanks

[@davidebonannini640]

@@zwillia.s1432 hmm... no.

[@uncoglionesultubo7808]

@@davidebonannini640 their SPG and tank hunters were really good (expect L40 47/32)

[@ZeeTymian]

Oh dear. That's the sexiest plane I've ever laid eyes upon. I knew Italians rocked, I fell for Caproni's designs in my early youth, but this...

[@techpriest8965]

That thing is gorgeous (and other Italian competitive seaplanes). Italian design really amazes me when it comes to planes. Tanks...not so much...

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Yeah, design wise they were really good! Problem is though that their design were often extremely complicated to mass produce (pretty much all Italian fighters of WW2 had this problem). Even the Germans decided against manufacturing later Italian designs, partly because it would be too compicated. And if something is too complicated for Germans....

[@blownaway9187]

I think having an aircraft design be considered to complicated by the Germans. Is like the biggest compliment you can give the designers, even if the design will not be useful in wartime because of it.

[@MightyKauri]

Yeah and it reached 70% the speed of sound with a straight leasing edge wing as well as those floats. The only aspect of the design that dates the design is that wing.

[@TLTeo]

To be fair, the time to build an MC.202 and a Spitfire was actually the same, so they weren't that bad. To my knowledge the reason the Germans decided not to produce the 5 series fighters was because it was going to require retooling of every single factory building Bf109s which was just not feasible, not because the Italian fighters themselves were too complex. Italy's main problem was simply that our own industry sucked and we didn't have the raw resources to build enough, well, anything during ww2

[@MasterControl90original]

YUP! Although later MC fighters were gorgeous but came out too late and in very few numbers to be useful in the last ditch of the war

[@Sacramescu]

Thanks man! I'm Italian and I visited that museum in april, it was a blast! Can't wait for you showing other rare pieces they have there! Greetings from Firenze!

[@federicocanale3985]

Greetings from Italy!

[@MCWren]

Hey Bismarck! Just wanted to let you know that we watched part of one of your videos in class today. It was in a WW2 class in my high school. When the video came on I was like "hey, I know that guy!"

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

JR Vids oh wow, that's awesome! What class was it and what video :o ?

[@grahammcrae6734]

The museum is wonderful and the MC 72 is a delightful machine. The Fiat engine and propellor set up is worth a session on its own, glad you have been to the Italian museum and do you intend doing more there? The WWI Caproni bomber would be a good subject, thanks for the videos on such interesting machines. Graham McRae

[@Hemimike426]

My aerodynamics teacher actually confused an MC 202 with a Spitfire. Had a hard time not cringing.

[@vettevet2002]

not understanding how; it has no external exhaust pipes along the nose, a pointy rudder and most importantly, no elliptical wings;

[@kyphe.]

I think he confused it with the Supermarine S.6B snider trophy winner that predates the spitfire and some say was the starting point for the spit. Both Seaplanes were supposed to race in the 1931 race but as the video states they could not get this aircraft working for another 2 years.

[@marcopuma4561]

Ye boi, that's our plane! :D

[@MDzmitry]

>"our" >**an increasing rumble of the USSR anthem** sorry.

[@finntastique3891]

This was very informative and interesting, as always. I love your videos, keep up the good work. Gut gemacht, mein Herr!

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Finntastique Danke schön :)

[@archinquisitornicodemus5672]

Your videos are always great!

[@marcoflumino]

bravo, as an ex aviere scielto, I have enjoy this and all of your videos, still missing your war thunder videos that sometimes you give to jingles. please continue your mission, no many people have the passion you have. again well done.

[@carlomarini4255]

Simply fantastic!!!!!!

[@FoxtrotVids]

Fantastic video Mr. Bis18marck70.

[@Zorro127127]

Excellent job. Your videos are fantastic. You do an outstanding job of presenting these aircraft in all aspects and your historic detail is exceptional. It is time for you to sign a contract with the history channel. Keep up the good work.

[@joefrawley5295]

Awesome aircraft. So nice to see it in such beautiful condition. Thank you for sharing.

[@I8ASUPRAforLUNCH]

Awesome. Great video.

[@NotRealNamesAgain]

That's frankly unbelievable for 1934. I mean- I do believe it, but hot damn.

[@XMarkxyz]

This plane is one of that things that make me proud of being italian, also you should talk about the hight aerodynamic level of plane like the mc 202 or 205 "veltro" and of early supersonic aerodynamic study of the italian "direzione superiore studi ed esperienze di Guidonia" (you can also find some American post-war memorandum about it) in one of your video

[@mlccrl]

I share your pride of being italian but I also feel shame because of the fact that the plane never turned from a prototype to a wide production model for our air force. It is a bright example of the way our war industries worked. They preferred to keep on building planes with radial engines for making more profits. We had very advanced projects but they were neglected to allow italian capitalists to make superprofits.

[@soundknight]

Such a gorgeous aircraft, it deserves to fly again.

[@bradfordmiller7987]

Like it Alot... most have Forgotten. Good work...

[@bradfordmiller7987]

Big Balls , Dude, well done!

[@xmaniac99]

Beautiful!!!!

[@josipvrandecic2472]

Very well over your I will again find out interesting and useful information.Danke BMAH.

[@carlistasycia]

If you ever visit Madrid, be sure to visit the Museo del Aire in Cuatro Vientos! Great collection, including a couple of gorgeous He-111s, an early one with the stepped cockpit and a spanish CASA copy.

[@donfelipe7510]

Couple of interesting things I noticed about the MC.72 while you were talking, firstly contra-rotating props, surely that was very advanced for the 1930s, late marks of the Spitfire and Seafire went on to use these to increase engine power. Also the tail is very clearly "Macchi style" it's shape is very similar to that of the MC.200 and MC.202 fighters of World War II. The Schneider trophy was ultimately won three times and hence outright ending the competition by RJ Mitchell and Supermarine of Great Britain if I recall correctly. Mitchell went on to design the Spitfire several years later. A number of pilots died during the Schneider trophy competition, many due to G-force blackouts incurred in some of the tight turns around the competition circuit which was probably not a phenomenon many civilian pilots were familiar with?

[@agusti92]

Very interesting!! Your positioning in the frame has improved significantly, but you really need a tripod xD

[@fw1421]

Gorgeous airplane!❤️❤️❤️

[@kurtpena5462]

You've come so far, B1smark!

[@michaelexman5474]

beautiful lines

[@soundknight]

Great facts.

[@jakobfriedrich5117]

Those racing seaplanes are all so gorgeous! I especially love the Supermarine Schneider trophy series planes. I wonder why there are no more fast civilian prop planes developed anymore. They have so much charme and emotion. Kinda sad

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

The high speed piston engine racer is not dead: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reno_Air_Races

[@jakobfriedrich5117]

jsm666 I know and that's great to see, still those are mostly fighter oldies as well. What I meant was that there is not really a thing comparable to sports- or supercars in aviation at all, especially not newly developed.

[@airsoftkillamanjaro]

The Pilatus aircraft are turboprops, does that count?

[@tinglydingle]

Turboprops aren't piston engines.

[@airsoftkillamanjaro]

Pilatus aircraft have a propellers; the engine driving the propeller wasn't part of the initial comment.

[@silviascolaro6937]

More over they used a float plane because at the time they couldn't change the pitch of the propellers. A prop that was good at high speed needed a really long runway and most runways at that time were fields not a paved airport one long enough and smooth enough didn't exist yet. So for a brief moment in history the fastest planes used lakes as it was easier to find a suitable lake

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

Constant speed props? I'm pretty sure they were pretty developed by the early 30's, so this plane could have had them.

[@grahvis]

Oldbmwr100rs Hawker Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain started with fixed pitch propellors.

[@gghdhsgsgzg8452]

I'm from Bracciano!!!

[@agdgdgwngo]

That really is a particularly beautiful plane.

[@christopherderrah3294]

My dad worked for Parker Aircraft in the 1950's. At the time they were attempting to design a jet seaplane. All the test pilots died because they could not build strong enough hydraulics to operate wing and tail flaps with the immense spray of water at the increased speed.

[@luvr381]

Beriev Be-10, Beriev Be-40, Beriev Be-200, Saunders-Roe SR.A/1, Convair F2Y Sea Dart, Martin P6M SeaMaster.

[@francescovolpe3244]

Amazing video, very very interesting. One little thing, the pilot's name is Francesco Agello, not Angelo.

[@bondisteve3617]

Thanks.

[@TheSkipjack95]

Sheer madness, that's what this thing is

[@theflyinggasmask]

you NEED to visit the SAAB museum in Sweden it is amazing.

[@wirelessone2986]

Faster than a P51D mustang?!Awesome!

[@emanemanrus5835]

Not hard to believe: this one was a pure racer, with all parts pushed to their limits just to achieve records in a run of some minutes. Think about a top fuel dragster of today, to attempt a comparison.

[@stefanoallari2154]

@@emanemanrus5835 true, but... this happened ten years before the P-51 was developed! It is strange that this airplane was not developed further, like the English did with their racing planes that turned into the mighty Spitfire.

[@MyAddad]

Yeah, for ten minutes, it couldn't even race in 1931...... If if if.........

[@ShopeeMarketteam]

Lmao a flying red convertible Ferrari?

[@thenasadude6878]

Well Red was the color assigned to Italian cars in international races. UK was green, Germany silver, France blue IIRC

[@amongimchen8453]

Porco Rosso!!!!

[@fhwolthuis]

Amazing airplane, look at that engine which takes up half of the fuselage 👍🇮🇹😃

[@polticalme1677]

I remember when I started into scale modelling (1/72 aircraft) in the mid 1970s my grandfather gave me a book for my 9th birthday. It was "Meilensteine der Luftfahrtgeschichte" (Milestones of Aviation History) and the M.C. 72 was my favourite aircraft. It's so beautiful and it looks like a racer. I never looked for a kit of it but if there is one I'll definetely buy and build it.

[@griffn14]

There's a Smer kit in 1/48. Not so good though. Seen in a review that they made both props the same, so they're not counter rotating - that would be a really "fun" aeroplane to fly.

[@ettore677]

this is my favourite plane!

[@wayvicle]

Very cool. Would you consider making a video about the Me109T?

[@conservativemike3768]

That engine is frickin HEUUUGE!

[@benstone5036]

Love the Schneider planes

[@paoloviti6156]

I know that I'm writing 6 years late but let me say that the MC 72 was a magnificent that was not flying at full power because meteorological reasons as it was hazy and therefore the visibility was not perfect. That said it was powered by a FIAT AS.6 supercharged V24 engine, generating aroundb3,100 hp driving contra-rotating propellers . I always understood that the engine had serious with carburetor until a British that was working for Rolls-Royce managed developed a "cocktail" for a carburetor finally working far better. I know very this museum not far away from Rome and oftentimes I took my boy to visit but now after 10 years he prefer video games nothing with airplanes. Good job 👍 👏 👌

[@terryboehler5752]

Thank you so much. This airplane has been burned in my brain since I was a young child.

[@stephen9869]

Very art-deco!

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

Danke.

[@glennoropeza3545]

Next time I'm in Italy I'd love to visit that Museum! I've always had a great admiration for Italian engineering! I totally agree that this plane would have broke the air speed record had it been a land based plane with retractable landing gear! The plane looks like something out of a cartoon because it's an undersize plane with an oversized engine!

[@randyhavard6084]

Imagine that aircraft without the floats, it is a slick looking machine

[@inseason101]

She's a beauty

[@Spitsz01]

Beautiful aircraft, looks like a dragonfly

[@derptank3308]

Woo!

[@joephish9075]

Challenge accepted. I'll get back to you in thirty years...

[@theothertonydutch]

Machines are sexy. Proof in this video.

[@Gjldo]

Francesco AGELLO not angelo WTF

[@localbod]

Very interesting. Another great video.

[@MyAddad]

Supermarine S6B V12, 2500 hp.... 1931 world record and Schneider trophy outright winner...... 403 MPH......

[@soundknight]

If you want cheap good audio you could get a zoom or tascam recorder with a cardiod handheld mic for noisy environments.

[@Shadow0fd3ath24]

Powered by a Fiat AS.6 50 liter supercharged V-24 engine that only weighs 2050lbs and that makes 3100 HP

[@Kyleinasailing]

It's true that this aircraft was faster than anything else in 1931. But, 2 V12's together with contra-rotating propellers has GOT to be fast. On the otherhand, the supermarine's Rolls Royce R type was only 26 litres and produced 2350 hp - a far more feasible design that was learnt from.

[@johnhurst3737]

I live at a place called Calshot un th U.K, home of the last ' Schneider Trophy' a international air-race event held between 1913 and 1931. Where these machines and pilots raced. The last and current hold of the trophy is 'supermarine S.6b. I wonder if that plane lead onto any further development, and had any history?

[@spitfirejme]

yes it was the father, of the spitfire, not less

[@johnhurst3737]

Yep I knew that, supermarine was based just across the water in Woolston near Southampton. I think R.j Mitchell worked there. 😉

[@titikalagan3024]

Italians have this particular that they make masterpieces. Art mixed with technology. And efficient. In 1944 mc205 was tested by germans and was considered as the best fighter in the axis...they wanted to produce it but the model needed too long time to make. .twice a me109.

[@lorenzor2555]

No, it was the FIAT G55 indeed, not the Macchi MC 205

[@jimb9063]

Wow, that's a sexy beast of an aircraft. Take years chosing the right goggles, helmet, scarf, and gloves to do it justice!

[@davemurphy3813]

Gorgeous aircraft and a wonderful period in aviation history that is too overshadowed by the following decades. "Seaplane Operations" co-authored by Dale DeRemer has plenty of good references on this era. I would love to see more content on this topic, and hope that some ambitious homebuilders will build flying replicas. However, it is true that this aircraft's claims have to be further qualified as the fastest propeller-driven seaplane, fastest "floatplane", or fastest piston-engined seaplane. The Convair Sea Dart takes the trophy. Beriev's Be-200 and A-40 are also faster. The Sea Dart is a hell of an interesting aircraft. Cheers, A float guy.

[@andrewince8824]

I wonder if downsizing the engine and therefore reducing the need for the float radiators might have allowed for a conventional landing gear offsetting the reduced power by reducing drag. Maybe a full canopy but that's a more complex change. Or 3 bladed props. There are so many things it would be interesting to try on such an incredible plane.

[@Deathbyreality1]

Man i though the Japanese navy had a infatuation with seaplanes i was wrong.

[@rlguerrero2263]

Excellent vieo. I just would like to know which was the engines

[@vmaxwt3123]

For micorphone you should check for lavaliers, they are pretty much independent from the surrounding environment as long it's not windy, and they are relatively cheap too

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Actually bought one yesterday ;)

[@vmaxwt3123]

Nice to know!

[@_datapoint]

If your serious about improving equipment here are my unwarranted tips (from one amateur videographer to another;) 1) Tripod 2) turn off autofocus. Your camera has enough “depth of field”. 3) if you get an audio recorder separate from your camera (which I highly recommend) a simple snap of the finger or clap of hands will help you synchronize your audio to your video in editing. Your narrative skills are excellent in my humble opinion.

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Matthew Merrell Hey :) Tripod is planned, I will get a new camera eventually and will keep in mind to disable auto-focus if it's giving me the same headache as here. As for the snap of the finger, good call!

[@MightyKauri]

YESSSS i love this plane. everything but the wing is so sexy

[@SecureSuppliesLimited]

You Mention another video showing or explain linear radiators you made explaining it on another plane ? can you link ?

[@lucywucyyy]

thats one sexy plane

[@klobiforpresident2254]

Only now that I see you do I believe that you pay a great impersonator to make me believe you're not the same guy as MHV ;)

[@DaviLu]

I smell G.55 in the next video ))

[@markrowland1366]

Maybe the record is for propeller planes. The British built a jet powered flying boat. The Russians have several jet liners that take off from the water.

[@bongobrandy6297]

I am humbled! I have never been able to counter rotate propellers.

[@rodrigomartinelli741]

I have started 3D modeling that thing some time ago, there are many Schneider trophy planes wich are pure aviation porn.. The PC 7 above them all..

[@mike104740]

Awesome video, but if I’m not mistaken the Convair F2Y sea dart is the fastest seaplane.

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

mike104740 Yes, for pure speed. But the Convair has a jet engine. The M.C. 72 is still the fastest piston engine seaplane.

[@mg4861]

What prevents they from trying today? The plane is there, just remove the floats and put a landing gear and more internal radiators if needed. With today's refrigerants I think it's feasible.

[@finlaymcdiarmid5832]

I do find it very strange its never really been tried again. Engines could be made smaller and lighter with the same power if not much more so its very strange there has never been another attempt. All the reno air race planes have energy recovery turbos so they dont count in the same record is that correct? as they have gone up to 520mph.

[@flakgun6874]

i have seen it in the museum Engine it is a monster 24 V

[@emanemanrus5835]

fine machine. Please remove those floaters, reengine the cooling plant and stick this beast at the flight line in Reno: she wants to race!

[@MartusTube]

Thumbs up if you heard the Top Gun theme at 5:15 in the background as he was talking.

[@xvdd1]

Describing the AS6 engine as a single engine is a bit of a stretch considering Fiat just mated 2 AS5 engines in tandem I am curious what the provisos were for being able to classify it as such.

[@doctormantistoboggan2339]

Looks like a spitfire

[@thecommentaryking]

More like the Spitfire looks like the MC 72

[@doctormantistoboggan2339]

@@thecommentaryking I mean the plane that the spitfire was based on was built around the same time period

[@wntu4]

440 mph in an open cockpit. Yikes.

[@johnherbold6539]

I bet the fastest seaplane of all time is the F2Y Sea Dart (which I got to see earlier today :0 )

[@finlaymcdiarmid5832]

I thought the sea master was the fastest, thought it went 680ish mph.

[@elijahstewart1333]

I counted like 3 voice cracks in the intro

[@conservativemike3768]

Designed entirely with a slide-rule and a box of pencils.

[@mynamefinn7060]

so where can i get one of these

[@Marnie_Racing]

Its not Ferrari red, its m.c red