Porco's Seaplane

Lore & Background

Porco's original red seaplane was shot down by the American pilot Donald Curtis during a flight to Milan for servicing. Porco survived the attack and continued his journey by boat, hauling the damaged plane behind him. In Milan, he brought the wreckage to his mechanic Piccolo, whose sons had emigrated. The work was instead taken on by Piccolo's young granddaughter, Fio Piccolo, who rebuilt the aircraft from the ground up. Once finished, Fio joined Porco on his flight home as cover in case the secret police arrested them—they could claim Porco had taken her hostage to force Piccolo's help. The rebuilt plane later faced the pirates again, and Porco used it in a duel with Curtis that devolved into a boxing match when both planes' guns jammed. After the duel, Porco and Curtis used their planes to lead the Italian air force away from Gina's hotel, allowing everyone else to escape.

In Their Own Story

The engine roared to life as Porco settled into the cockpit, the familiar vibration humming through the wooden frame. Below, the Adriatic stretched out like a sheet of polished glass. He banked hard, pontoons skimming the surface, sending up twin plumes of spray. For a moment, the world was silent except for the wind and the engine's steady pulse. Then the pirates appeared on the horizon, and the plane became a weapon once more—diving, climbing, twisting through the air with the precision of a man who had flown through war and come out the other side changed.

Reader's Guide

The Savoia S.21 is a single-engine seaplane designed for speed and maneuverability over water. Its large pontoons allow it to take off and land on open seas or hidden coves, making it ideal for a bounty hunter operating along the Adriatic coast. The aircraft is powered by a radial engine, and in Porco's rebuilt version, the engine rocker covers bear the word "Ghibli"—the namesake of Miyazaki's animation studio. The plane carries machine guns for aerial combat, though in Porco's climactic duel with Curtis, both pilots' guns jammed, forcing them to settle the fight with fists. Maintenance is constant: saltwater corrosion and battle damage require regular attention. While Porco handles routine tuning, major structural work—like Fio Piccolo's complete fuselage reconstruction—demands a skilled mechanic's touch. The plane has no digital aids; it relies entirely on analog gauges, manual controls, and the pilot's instinct.

Did You Know?

• Porco's plane is named after the Savoia S.21 but is actually based on the Macchi M.33.
• The engine in Porco's rebuilt Savoia S.21 has the word 'Ghibli' visible on its rocker covers.
• Porco's original red seaplane was shot down by American pilot Donald Curtis, forcing him to have it rebuilt by Fio Piccolo in Milan.
• During the final duel, both Porco's and Curtis's plane guns jammed, turning the dogfight into a boxing match in shallow water.
• After the duel, Porco and Curtis used their planes to lead the Italian air force away from Gina's hotel.