Ricci Bros Projects: between the aerial motorcycle and the flying transatlantic

ermeio

ACCESS: Confidential
Joined
5 August 2009
Messages
113
Reaction score
103
Something about the ricci brothers:
Umberto Ricci, born in Verona on November 26, 1886
Ettore Ricci, born in Verona on November 30, 1888:

they started their aeronautical career in 1905, building little hot air rigid airship models.
After some free flight gliders, they built a triple-tandem hydroplane in 1912 - Ricci 0
powered by an inline Daimler 6 cyl engine. This aircraft flew in 1914
During the first World War they built a three engine biplane twin fuselage seaplane.
This one wass built in Naples and was intended to carry two torpedoes - The fuselages are very similar to the FBA flying Boats, built under license by the same firm.
The engines were two Isotta Fraschini V4 and a center line mounted Fiat A 12 bis.Wingspan: 28 metres
lenght 14 mt the seaplane went lost during her first flight.
The second prototype flew in 1919.
During 1918 the ricci brothers also designed a large gull-wing seaplane with a pylon mounted engine: the aircraft was intended to leverage the ground effect flying at low altitude to deliver its payload (2 torpedoes, buried inside the fuselage)
After the war the prototype was converted into a 10 seat passenger aircraft.
following the Ricci 3, 4 and 5 were the prelude to transatlantic flying boats, the latter intended to carry 150 passengers between Naples and New-York.
These projects did not gain financial support.
The little Ricci triplane (only 3,45 mt wingspan) was designed during the war, but it was built only in 1918.
The diminutive aircraft was entered in a popular aviation contest for an aerial motorcycle with a wingspan under six meters.
The contest was held in july 1919 and placed third, after the Macchi M16 and the Pensuti triplane.
The aircraftwas named Ricci R6 and a two place version - Ricci 9 - was developed in 1921.
During 1921 the Ricci brothers started the construction of a large airship: the Ricci-Vaugean-Gargiulo A.V.3, intended to carry 100 passengers: lenght 120 mt; diameter: 33 mt. The project never flew.
In the followin years the firm built some motor boats and some FBA flying boats for the Grece.
They also designed a beating-wing hydro and a little folding wing catapultable fighter to be carried inside a submarine.
The ricci R6 gained new interest in the following years, to be used in the colonies.A newly built example was purchased by the Regia Aeronautica and allotted the MM.167.
After the second world war the busy brothers designed some interesting VTOLs and a giant transatlantic 350 tons aircraft, with a two decks fuselage and ten tubular wings.
 

Attachments

  • ricci r6.jpg
    ricci r6.jpg
    53.5 KB · Views: 1,205
One can add that the Ricci's diminutive triplane is hanging from the roof of the Aeronautical Pavillon of Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia in Milan....
 
ermeio said:
Something about the ricci brothers:
During the first World War they built a three engine biplane twin fuselage seaplane.
This one wass built in Naples and was intended to carry two torpedoes - The fuselages are very similar to the FBA flying Boats, built under license by the same firm.
The engines were two Isotta Fraschini V4 and a center line mounted Fiat A 12 bis.Wingspan: 28 metres
lenght 14 mt the seaplane went lost during her first flight.
The second prototype flew in 1919.
Google found not twin twin-hull Ricci seaplane. I have looked in my twin-boom database, and I am not sure the one I have is the same:from Jane's all the World aircraft 1919, I have the SIAM Ricci (Societa Industrie Alto Mediterraneo). 2 versions: tractive single engine (700hp), pusher twin-engine. Is this what you were talking about? You seem to speak of a 3-engined layout...
 
Thanks for this confirmation about a 3-engined layout.
From the JAWA 1919, reduced, I confirm the 1-engined and 2-engined versions:
 

Attachments

  • r_ricci_1_2.JPG
    r_ricci_1_2.JPG
    98 KB · Views: 650
Yes, this is the Ricci R1: as you can see, the hulls are very reminiscent of the FBA fuselage.
The first prototype went lost during the maiden flight and was rebuilt in the following years.
I suspect that the one in flight magazine is the second prototype.
In the flight caption the aircraft is reported as three engined - the discerning eye can distinguish the two pusher engines (above the hulls) and the single tractive airscrew mounted in front of the center line fuselage, suspended between the wings.
the engines were two 200 hp IF and a single 300hp IF - no single engine was capable of 700 hp before the late '20s.
best regards
 
Hi ermeio,

do you have drawings and technical info´s for the Ricci projects?

Servus
 
ermeio said:
the engines were two 200 hp IF and a single 300hp IF - no single engine was capable of 700 hp before the late '20s.
Thanks for this expert analysis. So... the first Jane's picture would be a 3-engined total 700hp seaplane, but what about the one mentionned as "twin-engine"? Misreading of Jane's writer? ??? ;)
 
...there is the Ricci R.5 from 1923 build by the Officine E. Cantieri Montofano...

(Source: JAWA 1923)

Maveric
 

Attachments

  • Ricci R-5 (Montofano)-.jpg
    Ricci R-5 (Montofano)-.jpg
    696.9 KB · Views: 622
...and the Ricci R.7 trainer, also build by Montofano in 1923...

(same Source)

Maveric
 

Attachments

  • Ricci R-7 (Montofano)-.jpg
    Ricci R-7 (Montofano)-.jpg
    583.9 KB · Views: 543
Thanks for this expert analysis. So... the first Jane's picture would be a 3-engined total 700hp seaplane, but what about the one mentionned as "twin-engine"? Misreading of Jane's writer? ??? ;)

Hi, Thophe
the Ricci's are obscure aircraft, also for an Italian, let alone for an english jane's correspondant in 1920.
The tho photos are side and rearward views of the same aircraft, and that engine installation in the fuselage nose is very difficult to be seen from behind - well, you can see that also in the side view there is some problem to discern the side nacelle and the props may look like struts...
I checked again the books I have at hand and the photos are of a three-engine biplane.
A very peculiar feature are the three coloured rudders, with horizontal stripes instead of the mandatory vertical stripes.
Also lacking is the savoia coat of arms.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for this final jugement: three-engine R1, all right.
When you wrote triplane, did you mistype for three-engine? or refer to the R6?
Thanks anyway. ;D
 
Photos and specs of Ricci R-6 Triplane from 1918 (the aircraft hanging from the ceiling is a replica).

photo%203%20%283%29.JPG

photo%205%20%283%29.JPG

photo%204%20%283%29.JPG

photo%201%20%283%29.JPG
 
Wow thanks for sharing us such a interesting shape plane's information.
 
I believe , this Ricci R.4 was not posted here before …

 

Attachments

  • s_R4_side.jpg
    s_R4_side.jpg
    73.4 KB · Views: 544
Hi,

http://archive.aviationweek.com/image/spread/19200601/12/2
 

Attachments

  • 1.png
    1.png
    266.5 KB · Views: 461
Maveric said:
...and the Ricci R.7 trainer, also build by Montofano in 1923...

The Ricci R.7;

http://www.avia-it.com/act/biblioteca/periodici/PDF%20Riviste/Ala%20d'Italia/L'ALA%20D'ITALIA%201924%20010.pdf
 

Attachments

  • 1.png
    1.png
    1 MB · Views: 387
Telegraph addresses, the e-mail addresses of their day you could say.
 
giru-XX said:
New pictures and information on the Ricci R.8 hydroplane have appeared here:
  • http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/17-The-Ongoing-Mystery-Aircraft-Thread-Part-Deux?p=1059469&viewfull=1#post1059469
  • http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/17-The-Ongoing-Mystery-Aircraft-Thread-Part-Deux?p=1059909&viewfull=1#post1059909
  • http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/17-The-Ongoing-Mystery-Aircraft-Thread-Part-Deux?p=1059995&viewfull=1#post1059995

Thank you Giru,

I never saw your respond,and did you mean this one?.
 

Attachments

  • vRMALXW.jpg
    vRMALXW.jpg
    384.2 KB · Views: 94
no this one is the Frenard Duck (a wrong link perhaps?)
 
giru-XX said:
no this one is the Frenard Duck (a wrong link perhaps?)

OK Giru,

and please can you send a picture to it.
 
Ricci R.8
 

Attachments

  • Ricci R.8.jpg
    Ricci R.8.jpg
    45.1 KB · Views: 92
  • Ricci Idroplano.jpg
    Ricci Idroplano.jpg
    68.8 KB · Views: 92
From Aerei Italiani 1914-1918,

the Ricci R-0,R-1 & R-1bis.
 

Attachments

  • 3.png
    3.png
    839.2 KB · Views: 113
  • 2.png
    2.png
    872.6 KB · Views: 115
  • 1.png
    1.png
    631.8 KB · Views: 141
During 1921 the Ricci brothers started the construction of a large airship: the Ricci-Vaugean-Gargiulo A.V.3, intended to carry 100 passengers: lenght 120 mt; diameter: 33 mt. The project never flew.
From TU 305;

In May 1921, Vaugean and Gargiulo join forces with brothers Ettore and Umberto Ricci to file a patent for a flying machine which takes up the idea behind the previous airship. In fact, in this device, a large part of the fuselage can be purged of ambient air to allow vertical takeoff. In addition, the aircraft is equipped with lower wings that fold down along the fuselage, thus allowing an increase in the airfoil for take-off and landing. 30 m long, the aircraft is propelled by a single motor placed at the front of the fuselage, which also drives the vacuum pumps. Obviously, no attempt to realization was not undertaken.
 

Attachments

  • 1.png
    1.png
    157.7 KB · Views: 54
From l'Aeronautique journal,


what was this Ricci aircraft or project ?.


Also I hope to know what was those mysteries aircraft;

Here is the translate,can we ID this beast ?,

The projects of the Ricci brothers.

MM. Ricci have just designed and started work on a new amphibious mono-biplane, on which we will come back for more. The main data of this plane are as follows: Wingspan, 25m; length, 18m; height, 6.40m; surface, 200M2, 50 of which are represented by the two fins which, in flight, transform the device into a biplane, in s lowering to form a lower plane parallel to the upper plane to which they can adhere; 300 HP engine driving a traction propeller; 1 pilot, 3 passengers and 50 kg of post. A special air pump can empty all the air contained in the upper wing whose thickness varies between 2m and 0.50m: this device is intended to lighten the plane, which will reach, it is hoped, a speed of 500 km/h.
 
From La Vie aerienne 1920.
 

Attachments

  • La_Vie_aérienne___revue_[...]_bpt6k62992939_15.jpeg
    La_Vie_aérienne___revue_[...]_bpt6k62992939_15.jpeg
    1.5 MB · Views: 29

Similar threads

Back
Top Bottom