The Regia Aeronautica would contribute 180 to 220 transport aircraft, mostly three-engined SM.75s (carrying 24-28 men each), SM.81s (12-14 men each) and SM.82s (30-34 men each). Given the distance between Axis airfields on Sicily and the drop zones over Malta, it was possible for the motorised transports to make four round-trips per day. The aircraft were to drop one Italian and one German airborne division onto the southern side of the island. The paratroopers had to secure the high ground behind the invasion beaches and seize a nearby airfield for Axis transport aircraft to land another division and supplies. Airborne units for the invasion included the German Fliegerdivision 7 (11,000 men) plus the Italian 185th Airborne Division Folgore (7,500 men) and the 80th Infantry Division La Spezia airlanding division (10,500 men) approximately 29,000 airborne troops. Preparations for the airborne assault included construction of three glider strips south of Mount Etna on Sicily.