Description
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 Marsupiale was an Italian bomber and transport aircraft of World War II. It was a cantilever, mid-wing monoplane trimotor with a retractable, tailwheel undercarriage. There were 875 (plus one prototype) built, the first entering service in 1940. Although able to operate as a bomber with a maximum bombload of up to 8,818 lb (4000 kg), the SM.82 saw very limited use in this role. The SM.82 was the foreign aircraft used in largest number by the Luftwaffe, which operated several hundreds of this aircraft, as a transport.
Between 1942 and Spring 1943, FliegerTransportGruppe “Savoia” operated 100 Savoia-Marchettis. After September 1943, SIAI kept on producing SM.82 for Luftwaffe, delivering 299 planes. Other Marsupiali were captured after the 8 September armistice. These aircraft had better capabilities as transports than the Junkers Ju 52, the standard transport aircraft of the Luftwaffe, that was, however, much more robust, compared to the SM.82, being all metal. Under German insignia, the Savoia-Marchettis were operated mostly by 6th Luftflotte and ReichLuftflotte on Eastern front and in Northern Germany, up to the end of war, but little is recorded of the activities of these aircraft in the last 18 months of the war as most were ad-hoc units. Records were either not kept or were destroyed.
This 100% ORIGINAL rudder pedal is in EXCELLENT used condition. Made of cast aluminum/magnesium there are some slight marks and wear, but nothing that detracts. Still retains the original springs, which are functional. Back of the pedal has a prominent “82”, and the mounting post has the part number, “82-1010-A”. NO breaks, cracks, or damage! I have shown its location in the last photos. As only ONE SM.82 still exists, it would make an EXCELLENT addition to any collection, display, or restoration project!
