72 is an experimental floatplane designed and built by the Italian aircraft company Macchi Aeronautica.

In 1933 and 1934 it set world speed records for piston engine-powered seaplanes; the latter still stands.

Further aircraft, the M.52, M.52R and the M.67, were designed and built but victory in the Schneider races kept eluding the Italians.

72, a single-seater aircraft with two floats powered by a modified FIAT AS.6 supercharged V24 engine, generating around 1,900-2,300 kW (2,500-3,100 hp),[1] driving contra-rotating propellers.

72 was built in 1931 for what turned out to be the final Schneider Trophy race, but due to engine problems was unable to compete.

72 suffered from many mechanical defects, as well as the loss of two test pilots who died trying to coax world class speed out of the M.C.

Not satisfied, development continued as the aircraft's designers thought they could surpass 700 km/h (430 mph) with the M.C.

For comparison, the record holder for a land-based aircraft was held (for a time) by the Hughes H-1 Racer with a top speed of only 566 km/h (352 mph).

The second was the Messerschmitt Me 209, built by Messerschmitt solely for the purpose of setting a new world speed record, which it achieved with a speed of 756 km/h (470 mph) on April 26 – less than 5 months before the start of World War II.

The current world speed record for a piston-engined aircraft is 531.53 mph (855.41 km/h) set by a modified P-51 Mustang named Voodoo over three km in 2017.