SIAI MARCHETTI S.205 · The Encyclopedia of Aircraft David C. Eyre

Photograph:

Siai Marchetti S.205/22R VH-SAE (c/n 4/129) at Albion Park, NSW in July 1972 (David C Eyre)

Country of origin:

Italy

Description:

Four-seat light touring monoplane

Power Plant:

(20F and 20R) One 149 kw (200 hp) Lycoming IO-360-A1A four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine

(22F and 22R) One 164 kw (220 hp) Franklin 6A-350-C1 six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine

Specifications:

[20R]

Wingspan: 10.86 m (35 ft 7½ in)

Length: 8.55 m (26 ft 2¾ in)

Height: 2.9 m (9 ft 5¾ in)

Wing area: 16.06 m² (173 sq ft)

Max speed: 270 km/h (168 mph)

Cruising speed at 75% power at 1,981 m (6,500 ft): 251 km/h 156 mph)

Cruising speed at 65% power at 2,499 m (8,200 ft): 238 km/h (148 mph)

Initial rate of climb: 264 m/min (865 ft/min)

Service ceiling: 5,380 m (17,650 ft)

Max range: 1,513 km (940 miles)

Empty weight: 739 kg (1,630 lb)

Loaded weight: 1,249 kg (2,753 lb)

History:

Designed as a competitor to aircraft such as the Piper Cherokee 180, the prototype of the Siai Marchetti S.205 series of touring monoplanes was flown for the first time in February 1966. The Italian company built three main variants, the models 18, 20 and 22, the numbers relating to the types of power plants installed in the models. The first models built were the S.205/18F and S.205/18R, both of which were fitted with the 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360-A1A engine, the ‘F’ denoting the fixed undercarriage model, and the ‘R’ the retractable undercarriage model.

Although similar in general specification to the Cherokee 180, the S.205 was a larger and heavier aircraft, and was thus advertised as having more cabin comfort. An external door permitted access to the baggage compartment, which allowed 60 kg (132 lb) of baggage to be carried. Four persons could be accommodated and, with a full load of fuel, about 10 kg (22 lb) was available to each person for baggage and equipment.

Other variants became available after the success of the initial models. After a short time the Models S.205/20F and S.205/20R appeared with the 149 kw (200 hp) Lycoming IO-360-A1A engine; and the S.205/22F and S.205/22R with the 164 kw (220 hp) Franklin engine.

Three examples of the series have been imported to Australia over the years, the first two by the distributor at the time, Aerial Agriculture of Bankstown, NSW, to test the market. The first appeared on the register in 1972. The aircraft imported were VH-SAE (c/n 4/129), a Model S.205/22R, and VH-SAF (c/n 4/172), a Model S.205/20F. A third aircraft in the series, an S.205/18F, VH-AZY (c/n 225 – ex G-IPEC, G-AVEG [OO-HAN]) was imported from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s, its registration being revoked on 27 June 2006.