Air Racer Pillows
Description: The Macchi MC-72 was the ultimate seaplane speed king. Though built for the lats Schneider Trophy race development and reliability prevented it from doing so but later it twice broke the all time seaplane speed record which still stands after which in 1933 it never flew again and is now displayed in a museum in Italy. Like the Supermarine racers it did inspire future fighter designs in WW2.
Description: The Macchi M.C. 72 was an experimental seaplane designed and built by the Italian aircraft company Macchi Aeronautica. Though it was designed to confront the all conquering Supermarine seaplanes in the final Schneider Trophy race a troubled development prevented this leaving the former to race alone. However the M.C. 72 held the world speed record for all aircraft for five years. In 1933 and 1934 it set world speed records for piston engine-powered seaplanes and the latter still stands. After the second record setter it never flew again but a preserved Macchi M.C.72 can be seen at the Museo storico dell'Aeronautica Militare di Vigna di Valle, Italy.
Description: The aircraft that won the Schneider Trophy outright for Britain in 1931/1932 after its predecessor the SE-4 won the race in 1929. Designed by R.J. Mitchell though not directly related as often claimed, much of what was learned in these racers helped in the development of the Spitfire.
