Some consider the revolutionary Piaggio-Pegna P.c.7 the sleekest, most futuristic aircraft of the 1920s.An Italian entry in 1929’s Schneider Cup, the innovative water-borne design swapped bulky, drag-inducing floats for hydrofoil gear.Theory seemed plausible. A ventral empennage prop pushed the racer forward until it rose from water on two hydrofoils. The pilot then engaged the main propeller – shooting P.c.7 skyward.
But the radical concept failed to fly – ever. And the Fascist government instead backed Macchi’s more conventional concepts.File this one under “I thought I’d never see an injection-molded Piaggio-Pegna P.c.7”. But as part of its “Schneider Trophy Series”, AMP/Micro-Mir astonishingly offers Golden Age Racing fans the chance to add a 1:48-scale example to their collections.