Piaggio P.50, part one

Now, it's time for something completely different. The project of a heavy bomber traces back to July 1935. Originating from the Piaggio P.23M, developed after the loss of the prototype of this last one. It was initially designed by Giovanni Pegna and was a shoulder-wing monoplane with a single tail and powered by four Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI RC.40 yielding each of them 700hp of power at sea level mounted in tandem in a pusher-puller configuration. That engine configuration which, even if seems odd nowadays, wasn't rare back during that years, as there were some other aircraft with the same configuration like the Savoia-Marchetti S.55, the French Latécoère 300, the Fokker F.32 or the Farman F.222, among others.
It was presented to the "Programma R" (Programme R) issued by the Regia Aeronautica for a four engined heavy bomber during the year 1937 and it was expected the adquisition of 12 pre-series after the first flight of the prototype, designated as P.50-I and armed with three Breda-SAFAT 12.7mm machine guns, at Milan-Malpensa airfield on 24th February 1938 piloted by test pilot Angelo Tondi.
However, shortly after, the prototype was damaged in a landing accident at Malpensa. Once repaired, it remained unusable, after the request of four Isotta-Fraschini L.121 RC.40 engines by Piaggio was denied so it remained grounded for two years, when it was dismantled.

Sources:
1. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P.50 (translated)
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P.50
3. La Bancarella Aeronautica - Ali d'Italia 15 - Piaggio P.108 (translated)