Photograph:
Siai Marchetti Riviera VH-SAV (c/n 0101) at Bankstown, NSW in January 1977 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Italy
Description:
Four-seat light amphibian
Power Plant:
One 186 kw (250 hp) Continental IO-470-P six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.43 m (34 ft 1 in)
- Length: 7.43 m (24 ft 4½ in)
- Height: 3.23 (10 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 15.14 m² (163 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 285 km/h (177 mph)
- Max cruising speed at 2,438 m (8,000 ft): 264 km/h (164 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 220 km/h (137 mph)
- Stalling speed flaps and undercarriage down: 109 km/h (68 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 372 m/min (1,220 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,639 m (18,500 ft)
- Take-off run on ground: 250 m (820 ft)
- Take-off run on water: 420 m (1,380 ft)
- Landing run on ground: 200 m (656 ft)
- Range with max fuel: 1,245 km (775 miles)
- Normal range: 1,060 km (660 miles)
- Empty weight: 1,043 kg (2,300 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,483 kg (3,270 lb)
History:
The Siai Marchetti Riviera was a light, shoulder-wing, cantilever monoplane with three-seats built as an amphibian and was developed by the Italian Nardi company and flown for the first time on 4 December 1952 with a 108 kw (145 hp) Continental engine. Subsequently, Siai Marchetti obtained rights to manufacture a re-designed version known as the Riviera, which was an enlarged variant seating four, with a more powerful engine. The prototype of the new model was first flown on 8 December 1954, and ten pre-production aircraft were built. The first of these was completed in February 1962. Limited production then commenced. Most production aircraft were intended for the American market where it was promoted by North Star Co of Newark in New Jersey as the Lane Riviera. Engineless airframes were imported to the US and completed by Southwest Airmotive.
Two speed records, which were set in 1960 in a Riviera, were held for some time: Class C-2c seaplanes from 1,200 kg to 2,100 kg (2,646 lb to 4,630 lb) for a 100 km (62 miles) closed course at 271.8 km/h (168.9 mph); a 498.9 km (310 miles) closed course at 268.73 km/h (167 mph); and an altitude record of 6,946.12 (22,789 ft) with a take-off weight of 1222.5 kg (2,695 lb).
Only one Riviera has been seen in Australia. It was initially registered to the importers, Transfield, as VH-SAV (c/n 0101) on 4 September 1964. It made an Australia-wide demonstration tour but no more orders were forthcoming. At that time it was noted at an aviation event held at Belmont, NSW.
The aircraft was then owned by Piper Investments Pty Ltd of Sydney, NSW from 10 September 1971; and on 3 March 1972 ownership was transferred to RA Lee in Melbourne, VIC. On 13 September 1972 it was registered to the Riviera Flying Group Pty Ltd of Melbourne; and on 15 January 1976 it was transferred to South Pacific Airways Pty Ltd of Sydney. It was at some stage leased by a company in Western Australia for a period. On 28 January 1977 it was obtained by Ramsay Constructions Pty Ltd of Normanton, QLD. At about that time seaplanes were being used in the Gulf of Carpentaria for prawn and fish spotting. It was struck off the register on 24 October 1978 and placed in storage.
On 11 July 2000 it was restored to the civil register and registered to Charles Riley of Tocumwal, NSW. By 2005 it had been dismantled for a rebuild and a repaint. At about that time the IO-470P engine was overhauled. On 23 February 2006 it was with W Riley of Cobram, VIC; and on 5 December 2006 ownership was transferred to Copper Creek Pty Ltd of Tocumwal and remained there awaiting completion of its overhaul.