Albatros Productions Ltd.

Windsock Datafile No. 128 The SIA SP.2 & SP.3

by  Gregory Alegi

Reviewed By  Clare Wentzel, IPMS# 1096

MSRP: £11.50 ($20.43) from the publisher www.windsockdatafilespecials.co.uk Datafile number 128 from Albatros Productions, Ltd. covers the SIA SP.2 and SP.3 bombers. Gregory Alegi authors this Datafile. Mr. Alegi is a well-known author who specializes in Italian aircraft. He has written several Datafiles as well as a number of books on aircraft of Italian Air Forces of various time periods. The SP.2 and SP.3 aircraft were twin-boom pusher biplanes. They were used for reconnaissance, light bombing, air defense and dual control trainers. The design originated in April 1915 through the collaboration of Capitano Umberto Savoja and Sottotenente ingegnere Ottorino Pomilio. These two engineers served with the Technical Directorate of Military Aviation in Turin and had previously worked to adapt the Farman MF.14 to the Fiat A.10 engine. Their new design followed a similar layout to the Farman. It had a massive biplane wings, a central nacelle for the crew and engine and tail booms supporting a triple-finned empennage. The design was of conventional wooden structure. The SP.3 was similar to the SP.2 but it featured shorter wings and a different nacelle design. When the prototype began to be evaluated by the Italian Army, it provided an excellent performance compared to existing aircraft. However, when the aircraft began to reach front line units, it was becoming obsolete due to its large size, limited maneuverability and formidable drag due to extensive bracing wires in all directions. The attached photo shows some of the myriad of bracing wires around the nacelle. It appears that 700 of the two SP types were ordered and delivered from three different factories. This expanded 40-page book contains 80 large black and white photos. A full 15 pages are devoted to the detailed 1/72 and 1/48 scale drawings that we have come to expect in the Datafile line. The drawings illustrate the differences between the SP.2 and the SP.3 and also show some the differences based on manufacturer and function. Cockpit details are shown by one of the photos from an aircraft construction manual. As usual, the book format includes a detailed written narrative of the aircraft covering prototype to production and on to the front. The narrative also includes discussion of some of the experimental models. The photos cover most of the variants and include a number of photos of crashed aircraft. These frequently show details that are normally not seen. The words and photos combine to provide the reader a very detailed understanding of this little known but important series of aircraft. I am not aware of any models of the SP.2 or SP.3 aircraft and if there were, the rigging would drive us crazy. From a modeler's standpoint, we would buy this book based on an interest in aviation history. This book is well recommended for all aviation enthusiasts who are fans of World War One. The author has done a fantastic job of digging out as much information as possible about these little-known aircraft. The photos alone are worth the price of this expanded book. This book is a must to expand our knowledge of this facet of World War One aviation. A big thank you to Albatros Productions Ltd. for providing the sample for review. Information on this book and other Datafiles is available from the publisher on their website - www.windsockdatafilespecials.co.uk/. The books are also available from many other hobby shops, aviation booksellers and some contest vendors.

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