Piaggio Stella P.VII

The Piaggio Stella P.VII was the first P series aircraft engine produced by Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A. Based on its experience license-producing the Gnome-Rhône 7K, Piaggio sold the engine to be used on a wide range of Italian aircraft before and during World War II, including the record-breaking Caproni Ca.133.

Development
Having built engines under licence from Gnome et Rhône, Piaggio designed a seven-cylinder radial using the same principles. The engine, named P.VII for its seven cylinders, was one in a series of radial engines produced by Piaggio initially named Stella, meaning star. The engine was first run in 1933 and was produced in many models. One notable version was the P.VII Z which was fitted with a floatless Piaggio AS80 carburettor for aerobatic flight. It powered the Caproni Ca.133 flown by Renato Donati that, in 1933, broke the record for the longest duration in inverted flight.

Variants

 * P.VII C.15: Supercharged, rated at 331 kW at 1500 m; first flew 1933
 * P.VII C.16: Supercharged, rated at 338 kW at 1600 m; first flew 1934
 * P.VII C.16/35:
 * P.VII C.35: Supercharged, rated at 338 kW at 3500 m; first flew 1935
 * P.VII C.40: Supercharged, rated at 287 kW at 4000 m; first flew 1935
 * P.VII C.45 / 2v: Two speed supercharged, rated at 287 kW at 4500 m; first flew 1935
 * P.VII R.C.10: Supercharged and geared, rated at 1000 m.
 * P.VII R.C.35: Supercharged and geared, rated at 368 kW at 3500 m; first flew 1938
 * P.VII R.C.45: Supercharged and geared, rated at 287 kW at 4500 m first flew 1935
 * P.VII Z: Normally aspirated, designed for acrobatic aircraft, rated at 272 kW, first flew 1933

Applications

 * Breda Ba.28
 * Caproni Ca.101
 * Caproni Ca.113
 * Caproni Ca.133
 * Caproni Ca.148
 * Caproni Ca.310
 * Caproni Ca.311
 * Caproni Ca.316
 * Hispano HS-42
 * IMAM Ro.41
 * North American Sk.14A
 * Savoia-Marchetti S.71
 * Savoia-Marchetti SM.85