PVII C35 Engine

Piaggio engines were initially called Stella (“star”). A number that indicated the number of cylinders on the engine followed the name. Successively the letter P and a progressive number in Roman numerals were added: if the engine had a reducer it was marked R and if it had a compressor it was marked C. There was also a number indicating power rating in bhp. From the commencement of its engine production to 1943 Piaggio designed and produced 16 different engine models, starting from the 370 bhp PVII and ending with the 1,500 bhp PXXII. The first of the “P” series vas the PVII N with seven radial cylinders, developed in 370 to 500 bhp versions. The PVII was used on numerous Italian aircraft and propelled the first postal connection between Italy and South America on the SIAI S.71 aircraft in 1934. The PVII was also built in a special version (PVII Z) with a PIAGGIO AS80 no-float carburettor. in this version it obtained the world record for the duration of an inverted flight in 1933 on a Caproni Ca. 113. in 1934 the pilot Renato donate broke the altitude record, reaching 14.443 metres, over a thousand metres higher than the preceding record held by Lemonine. For this endeavour he was given a specially adapted Caproni Ca. 113 with a PVII C35 engien modified for high-altitude flying and equipped with an automatic oxygen machine. the 370 bhp PVII RC 35 featured a wing span of 10,5 metres, a length of 7,4 metres, a height of 2,75 metres and a speed of 250 km per hour, with a 300 km range (without refueling). the Caproni Ca. 113 was a racing aeroplane with very acrobatic capabilities that became famous for the many records it broke.