Miloch
September 2nd 19, 02:58 PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMAM_Ro.41
The IMAM Ro.41 was an Italian light biplane fighter aircraft, serving in the
Regia Aeronautica in the 1930s-1940s, mainly as a trainer.
It was a singular aircraft, being obsolescent as a fighter when it first
appeared in 1934, but despite this it was used as such until 1940. The Luftwaffe
showed an interest in it as a trainer, even though German first line fighters
were completely different. The Ro.41 is almost unknown, compared to many other
Italian aircraft, despite being one of the most numerous produced, in its
16-year career.
The IMAM Ro.41 had its origins in the aircraft division of OFM (Officine
Ferroviarie Meridionali). In 1929 Alessandro Tonini, the chief designer, had
serious health problems and was replaced by Giovanni Galasso. This company,
based in Naples, was taken over by Breda in 1935, and so Galasso's new aircraft
designs received the IMAM designation of this company. One of the first was the
Ro.41, flight tested by Niccolò Lana at Capodichino airfield on 16 June 1934.
The first prototype was fitted with a Piaggio P.VII engine, and showed itself to
be very agile, with excellent climb performance, and no noticeable vices. The
second prototype, MM.281, was tested 31 January 1935, and taken on strength with
the Regia Aeronautica.
The third prototype had a Piaggio P.VII C.45 with two-stage compressor, giving
390 hp at 4,000 m. This was the definitive version of this aircraft, and fifty
aircraft, numbers MM.2907-2956, were ordered. This first series was put in
service in July 1935.
A biplane, with the lower wing smaller than the upper, the Ro.41 was of mixed
construction, the fuselage of chrome-molybdenum steel frame, covered in fabric.
Duralumin covered the bottom and upper fuselage, and also the engine cowling.
The wings were made of wood covered with fabric. There was a fixed
undercarriage.
The engine gave a theoretical 425 hp at ground level, 450 hp at 1,500 m, and 390
hp at 4,500 m, although it was much less in practice. The reliability was very
good. A 176-litre fuel tank was inside the fuselage, near the engine, together
with a 20-litre oil tank. The propeller was two-bladed and made of wood, later
replaced by a metal two-blade model.
Armament, when fitted, consisted of two 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns mounted
inside the fuselage, with 850 cartridges.
Performance
This aircraft was designed as a fighter, but was underpowered even by mid-1930s
standards. It resembled a small I-15, and was fairly agile. On tests it was able
to reach an altitude of 1,000 metres in 1 minutes 32 seconds, 3,000 m in 3 min
47 sec, and 5,000 m in 7 min 34 sec, which was a much better climb rate than the
standard Italian fighter, the Fiat CR.32 (3,000 m in 5 min 10 sec). It was also
more manoeuvrable than the CR.32, and cost significantly less. However, a top
speed of only 320 km/h was far too slow to make the Ro.41 a credible fighter,
and the CR.32 had a better range, a better dive performance, was more heavily
armed, and was already in service.
Role
Fighter/Trainer
Manufacturer
IMAM
Designer
Giovanni Galasso
First flight
16 June 1934
Introduction
1935
Retired
1950
Primary users
Regia Aeronautica
Luftwaffe
Number built
743 + 1 prototype
The Ro.41 found a role as a trainer aircraft, for which it was well-suited, and
a series of 30 two-seat aircraft first flew in 1937. The Ro.41 replaced the
Breda Ba.25, and soon another 264 single-seat and 66 two-seat models were
ordered.
The Ro.41 was also proposed as light fighter. Twenty-eight were sent to Spain
where, thanks to their high rate of climb, they acted as point-defence
interceptors around Seville, though it appears that they did not score any
victories.
It served in 5 and 50 Wing as a fighter bomber, before the Breda Ba.65 arrived.
XVI Gruppo, 50 Stormo, had all its three squadrons equipped with Ro.41s. 163 Sqn
was sent to Rodi and used the Ro.41 as a fighter until 1940. Twelve Ro.41s
served with 160 Gruppo in 1939 and were used as first line fighters, though the
Gruppo was based on CR.32s and CR.42s. From 10 August 1940 four Ro.41s of 159
Sqn, 12 Gruppo, 50 Assault Wing were flown from Tobruk as night fighters.
In its limited career as first line fighter the Ro.41 did not achieve any
victories, and it is unlikely that it was ever involved in any air-combats. By
this time even the CR.32 and CR.42s were obsolete, and the Ro.41s were only a
stop-gap measure. Their real task was advanced training and despite the obsolete
design they managed to be popular, reliable and cheap machines. They were also
built by Agusta and AVIS.
The Ro.41bis, with a smaller wing and better performance was tested, but the
CR.32 was already available for flying schools, and it was not a success. In
September 1938 MM.3786 was sent to Uruguay to display the type, but no orders
were placed.
Ro.41s were popular aircraft and for many years first line squadrons and flight
schools operated it, until it became obsolete for first line use. One of the few
changes was the fitting of a Piaggio P.VII RC.35 engine, that had a single-stage
compressor which gave 500 hp at low level. Guns were seldom fitted, and two-seat
versions had no weapons at all, and also carried less fuel.
The Ro.41 was the first post-war aircraft to enter production when an order was
sent to Agusta for 15 new aircraft (5 single and 10 two-seaters) and later ten
more (7 single and 3 two-seaters). These aircraft had a wooden propeller,
possibly spare parts still in store. They were painted silver, the new standard
for Italian aircraft, instead of camouflage colours. Three of these machines
formed the first acrobatic team of the Aeronautica Militare in 1947 at Padua.
These aircraft were flown until 1950.
In total production reached 753 aircraft.
Specifications
General characteristics
Crew: One, pilot
Length: 6.38 m (20 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 8.81 m (28 ft 10 in)
Height: 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 19.15 m² (206 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,010 kg (2,222 lb)
Loaded weight: 1,270 kg (2,794 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 320 km/h (173 knots, 199 mph) at 4,000 m
Range: 320 km (173 nm, 199 mi)
Armament
2 × 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns
*
The IMAM Ro.41 was an Italian light biplane fighter aircraft, serving in the
Regia Aeronautica in the 1930s-1940s, mainly as a trainer.
It was a singular aircraft, being obsolescent as a fighter when it first
appeared in 1934, but despite this it was used as such until 1940. The Luftwaffe
showed an interest in it as a trainer, even though German first line fighters
were completely different. The Ro.41 is almost unknown, compared to many other
Italian aircraft, despite being one of the most numerous produced, in its
16-year career.
The IMAM Ro.41 had its origins in the aircraft division of OFM (Officine
Ferroviarie Meridionali). In 1929 Alessandro Tonini, the chief designer, had
serious health problems and was replaced by Giovanni Galasso. This company,
based in Naples, was taken over by Breda in 1935, and so Galasso's new aircraft
designs received the IMAM designation of this company. One of the first was the
Ro.41, flight tested by Niccolò Lana at Capodichino airfield on 16 June 1934.
The first prototype was fitted with a Piaggio P.VII engine, and showed itself to
be very agile, with excellent climb performance, and no noticeable vices. The
second prototype, MM.281, was tested 31 January 1935, and taken on strength with
the Regia Aeronautica.
The third prototype had a Piaggio P.VII C.45 with two-stage compressor, giving
390 hp at 4,000 m. This was the definitive version of this aircraft, and fifty
aircraft, numbers MM.2907-2956, were ordered. This first series was put in
service in July 1935.
A biplane, with the lower wing smaller than the upper, the Ro.41 was of mixed
construction, the fuselage of chrome-molybdenum steel frame, covered in fabric.
Duralumin covered the bottom and upper fuselage, and also the engine cowling.
The wings were made of wood covered with fabric. There was a fixed
undercarriage.
The engine gave a theoretical 425 hp at ground level, 450 hp at 1,500 m, and 390
hp at 4,500 m, although it was much less in practice. The reliability was very
good. A 176-litre fuel tank was inside the fuselage, near the engine, together
with a 20-litre oil tank. The propeller was two-bladed and made of wood, later
replaced by a metal two-blade model.
Armament, when fitted, consisted of two 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns mounted
inside the fuselage, with 850 cartridges.
Performance
This aircraft was designed as a fighter, but was underpowered even by mid-1930s
standards. It resembled a small I-15, and was fairly agile. On tests it was able
to reach an altitude of 1,000 metres in 1 minutes 32 seconds, 3,000 m in 3 min
47 sec, and 5,000 m in 7 min 34 sec, which was a much better climb rate than the
standard Italian fighter, the Fiat CR.32 (3,000 m in 5 min 10 sec). It was also
more manoeuvrable than the CR.32, and cost significantly less. However, a top
speed of only 320 km/h was far too slow to make the Ro.41 a credible fighter,
and the CR.32 had a better range, a better dive performance, was more heavily
armed, and was already in service.
Role
Fighter/Trainer
Manufacturer
IMAM
Designer
Giovanni Galasso
First flight
16 June 1934
Introduction
1935
Retired
1950
Primary users
Regia Aeronautica
Luftwaffe
Number built
743 + 1 prototype
The Ro.41 found a role as a trainer aircraft, for which it was well-suited, and
a series of 30 two-seat aircraft first flew in 1937. The Ro.41 replaced the
Breda Ba.25, and soon another 264 single-seat and 66 two-seat models were
ordered.
The Ro.41 was also proposed as light fighter. Twenty-eight were sent to Spain
where, thanks to their high rate of climb, they acted as point-defence
interceptors around Seville, though it appears that they did not score any
victories.
It served in 5 and 50 Wing as a fighter bomber, before the Breda Ba.65 arrived.
XVI Gruppo, 50 Stormo, had all its three squadrons equipped with Ro.41s. 163 Sqn
was sent to Rodi and used the Ro.41 as a fighter until 1940. Twelve Ro.41s
served with 160 Gruppo in 1939 and were used as first line fighters, though the
Gruppo was based on CR.32s and CR.42s. From 10 August 1940 four Ro.41s of 159
Sqn, 12 Gruppo, 50 Assault Wing were flown from Tobruk as night fighters.
In its limited career as first line fighter the Ro.41 did not achieve any
victories, and it is unlikely that it was ever involved in any air-combats. By
this time even the CR.32 and CR.42s were obsolete, and the Ro.41s were only a
stop-gap measure. Their real task was advanced training and despite the obsolete
design they managed to be popular, reliable and cheap machines. They were also
built by Agusta and AVIS.
The Ro.41bis, with a smaller wing and better performance was tested, but the
CR.32 was already available for flying schools, and it was not a success. In
September 1938 MM.3786 was sent to Uruguay to display the type, but no orders
were placed.
Ro.41s were popular aircraft and for many years first line squadrons and flight
schools operated it, until it became obsolete for first line use. One of the few
changes was the fitting of a Piaggio P.VII RC.35 engine, that had a single-stage
compressor which gave 500 hp at low level. Guns were seldom fitted, and two-seat
versions had no weapons at all, and also carried less fuel.
The Ro.41 was the first post-war aircraft to enter production when an order was
sent to Agusta for 15 new aircraft (5 single and 10 two-seaters) and later ten
more (7 single and 3 two-seaters). These aircraft had a wooden propeller,
possibly spare parts still in store. They were painted silver, the new standard
for Italian aircraft, instead of camouflage colours. Three of these machines
formed the first acrobatic team of the Aeronautica Militare in 1947 at Padua.
These aircraft were flown until 1950.
In total production reached 753 aircraft.
Specifications
General characteristics
Crew: One, pilot
Length: 6.38 m (20 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 8.81 m (28 ft 10 in)
Height: 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 19.15 m² (206 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,010 kg (2,222 lb)
Loaded weight: 1,270 kg (2,794 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 320 km/h (173 knots, 199 mph) at 4,000 m
Range: 320 km (173 nm, 199 mi)
Armament
2 × 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns
*