This all-black SM.82 “Marsupiale” (Marsupial) is likely one of this type transport planes employed by the Italian Regia Aeronautica for long range night missions as those against Gibraltar and Alexandria. All white insignias and markings are cancelled with black matt paint. Also the under wing nationality’s emblem (three Fasci Littori) is black over a dark grey background. Clearly visible on top of the fuselage the Caproni-Lanciani turret, traverse 360 degrees, with a 12.7mm (.50 in) Scotti machine gun, while the under-nose bombardier’s turret is retract. Victor Sierra



All-black S.82 “Marsupiale”

Taken jus before leaving for the front- c. 1915

My grandfather Salvatore Cossu

Instruments panel and flight controls inside the cockpit of an Italian three-engine transport plane Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 “Marsupiale” (Marsupial). Clearly visible control wheels, rudder pedals, hand throttles, compass, instruments “clock-type” and many other devices in good part today disappeared. An old-time flying perhaps “romantic”, but extremely demanding for the pilot. Now, with glass cockpit, FBW, HOTAS, GPS, computer, etcetera, the matter is most easy and the pilot’s workload is changed and notably reduced. The price? The pilot is losing the “physical” contact with his airplane and somebody, at flight safety organization level, beginning to worry… Victor Sierra