IMAM Ro.37
The IMAM Ro.37 was a reconnaissance aircraft of the Italian aircraft manufacturer IMAM. The lower wing of the biplane had a significantly shorter wingspan than the upper wing.
History
The development and production of this aircraft began in 1933. The machine was manufactured in wood-metal composite construction. The tail wheel landing gear was not retractable. The main landing gear wheels were dressed aerodynamic. The basic design saw as a drive source a 600 -hp Fiat - V engine - the Fiat A.30 RA - before. However, overall, was not satisfied with the drive, and so the production was set after 160 machines.
In order to improve the performance close to the ground, 9-cylinder radial engines of the types Piaggio Piaggio P.IX RC.40 or P.XR RC.40 were used with 412 respectively 515 kW. After further improvements of the type was designated Ro.37bis. With this embodiment, the end of the development of this type had been reached, it thereof were again produced 475 machines. A total of about 620 machines were from the Ro.37 and Ro.37bis built.
The machines were also exported. Customers were Hungary, Afghanistan and some countries in South and Central America, including Ecuador.
Use
The machines were first used in the Spanish Civil War and also played in the Second World War a certain role, particularly in North Africa, on the Eastern Front and in the Balkans. Later, they were used mainly as a liaison and ambulance aircraft and withdrawn from service at the front. At the time of the Italian surrender ro was 37 more used in active associations.
Military user
- Kingdom Afghanistan 1931 Afghanistan: 16 Ro.37bis from 1937-1941
- Ecuador Ecuador: 10 Ro.37bis from 1937-1941
- Italy 1861 Italy Regia Aeronautica
- Austria Austria: 8 Ro.37bis from 1927-1938
- Spain 1938 Spain: 68 Ro.37bis from 1936 to 1945;
- Uruguay Uruguay: 6 Ro.37bis from 1937-1945
- Hungary Hungary: 14 Ro.37bis from 1939-1941
Specifications
Aircraft received
A plane is located in the Italian Aviation Museum Vigna di Valle.