The Macchi M.C.94 was a commercial flying boat designed by Mario Castoldi and built by Macchi in 1936. Constructed primarily of wood, the aircraft served as a passenger transport for the Ala Littoria airline, replacing its aging fleet of CANT 10 flying boats.
The prototype was an amphibian variant equipped with a retractable wheeled undercarriage that folded into streamlined casings within the wing leading edges. The aircraft featured a high-wing cantilever monoplane configuration with a distinctive two-step hull and single fin and rudder. Power came from two Wright SGR-1820-F Cyclone nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engines rated at 574 kilowatts (770 hp) each, mounted above the wing and driving tractor propellers. The flight deck accommodated a three-man crew in a raised, enclosed cockpit, while the main cabin seated twelve passengers.
Following the prototype, eleven production aircraft were constructed as pure flying boats without amphibian capability. From the seventh aircraft onwards, Alfa Romeo 126 R.C.10 radial engines replaced the Wright powerplants. Ala Littoria acquired the prototype and the first five production examples in 1936, subsequently purchasing the remaining six aircraft when the Regia Aeronautica declined to order them.
About Mario Castoldi
Mario Castoldi was an Italian aircraft designer whose work shaped commercial aviation development in the 1930s. He designed several significant flying boats and aircraft for Macchi, contributing to the company’s reputation in maritime aviation design.
Details
- Designer: Mario Castoldi
- Manufacturer: Macchi
- Year: 1936
- Type: Commercial passenger flying boat
- Construction: Primarily wood
- Engines: Wright SGR-1820-F Cyclone (prototype and early production); Alfa Romeo 126 R.C.10 (from seventh aircraft)
- Crew: Three
- Passenger capacity: Twelve
- Operator: Ala Littoria airline
Frequently asked questions
Who designed the M.C.94?
Mario Castoldi designed the aircraft as a commercial passenger transport to replace Ala Littoria’s elderly CANT 10 flying boats.
How many aircraft were built?
One prototype and eleven production aircraft were constructed, with twelve total examples delivered to Ala Littoria.
What engines powered the M.C.94?
The prototype and early production examples used Wright SGR-1820-F Cyclone nine-cylinder radial engines; from the seventh aircraft onwards, Alfa Romeo 126 R.C.10 engines were fitted.
