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{{Short description|Italian biplane flying boat}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
 |name=Macchi M.3
 |image=Zsákmányolt olasz Macchi L.3 típusú repülőcsónak. A kép valószínűleg Catarro-ban (ma Kotor - Montenegro) a haditengerészeti támaszponton készült. Fortepan 57932.jpg
 |caption=
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
 |type=Biplane flying boat
 |manufacturer=[[Aermacchi|Macchi]]
 |designer=
 |first flight=1916
 |introduced=
 |retired=1924
 |status=
 |primary user=[[Regia Marina]]
 |more users=
 |produced=
 |number built=200
 |developed from=Macchi L.2
 |variants with their own articles=
}}
|}

The '''Macchi L.3''', or later '''Macchi M.3''', was an Italian [[biplane]] [[flying boat]] developed from the earlier [[Macchi L.2|L.2]].

==Development==
The Macchi company had learned about flying boat design from copying an [[Austria]]n flying boat to produce the [[Lohner L|Macchi L.1]] and improving it to produce the L.2. The result was the L.3, which was renamed the M.3 in 1917 to recognise the change in design from Lohner influenced to a Macchi design. Only the unequal-span biplane wings were inherited from the L.2; a new and refined hull and strut-mounted [[tailplane]] were designed. Like its predecessors, the new plane was powered by a single [[Isotta Fraschini]] engine strut mounted between the two wings and driving a [[Pusher configuration|pusher]] propeller. It was armed with a single [[machine gun]] on a trainable mounting and could also carry four light bombs. In 1916, one aircraft gained the world altitude record for a [[seaplane]] when it climbed to 5,400&nbsp;m (17,700&nbsp;ft) in 41 minutes.

==Operational history==
Over 200 M.3s were built and delivered to the Royal Italian Navy and were used on a variety of missions which including [[Bomber|bombing]], [[reconnaissance]], patrol and escort. For a short period in 1917, it was also used as a [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]]. Several aircraft were used in commando-style operations behind Austrian lines. The aircraft were highly regarded by the Royal Italian Navy and they were used on bombing raids and pioneered the Italian use of aerial photography. After [[World War I]], the type was used by training units until 1924.

In 1919, an L.3 which belonged to the Italian Military Mission in Argentina connected Buenos Aires with Asunción, Paraguay for the first time. This plane was later donated to the Paraguayan government. [[Lieutenant]] Arturo Escario, who was already a pilot, trained in the L.3 in Argentina. This plane was destroyed in an accident on 30 September 1919. Its pilot, Lieutenant Escario, died the following day.

A number of second-hand aircraft were used by the Swiss company [[Ad Astra Aero]] to carry out charters and joy rides on the Swiss lakes, the two passengers were seated side-by-side behind a large windscreen with the pilot in a raised open [[cockpit]] further aft.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

Two M.3s were fitted with [[Fiat A.12]] engines and were re-designated '''Macchi M.4''', but they were abandoned after completion in favour of the [[Macchi M.9]].

==Operators==
[[File:Macchi_M.3.jpg|thumb|[[Ad Astra Aero]] M.3 CH-15]]
;{{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}
*[[Regia Marina]]
;{{SUI}}
*''[[Ad Astra Aero]]''
;{{flag|Paraguay|1842}}
*[[Paraguayan Air Force]]

==Specifications==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref={{cite book |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)|publisher= Orbis Publishing|pages= 2392}}
|prime units? = met
|crew=2
|span m=15.95
|span ft=52
|span in=4
|gross weight kg=1,350
|gross weight lb=2,976
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Isotta Fraschini V.4|Isotta Fraschini V.4B]]
|eng1 kw=119
|eng1 hp=160
|max speed kmh=144
|max speed mph=90
|range km=385
|range miles=239
|armament = *1 × [[Fiat machine-gun]] or a light cannon
*4 × light bombs
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->
|see also=
|related=<!-- related developments -->
* [[Lohner L|Lohner L.1]]
* [[Macchi L.2]]
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
* [[FBA Type A|FBA Type S]]
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
*[[List of seaplanes and flying boats]]
}}

==References==
{{commons category|Macchi M.3}}
* {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London }}
*{{cite book |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)|publisher= Orbis Publishing|pages= 2392}}
* Sapienza Fracchia, Antonio Luis: "La Contribución Italiana en la Aviación Paraguaya". Author's edition. Asunción, 2007. 300pp.

{{Macchi aircraft}}
{{Portal bar|Italy|Companies|Aviation}}

[[Category:Macchi aircraft|M.03]]
[[Category:1910s Italian military reconnaissance aircraft]]
[[Category:Flying boats]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1916]]