The IMAM Ro.57: Italy's Forgotten Twin-Engine Fighter That Never Fought скачать в хорошем качестве

The IMAM Ro.57: Italy's Forgotten Twin-Engine Fighter That Never Fought

The IMAM Ro.57 was one of Italy's most beautiful aircraft of World War Two. Sleek, modern, capable—it looked like a winner. IMAM designed it in 1938 as a long-range twin-engine fighter, correctly anticipating that Italy would need such an aircraft in the coming war. Then nobody ordered it. For two years, it sat ignored while Italy fought across North Africa, the Mediterranean, and Russia—exactly the theaters where a long-range fighter would have been invaluable. When the Regia Aeronautica finally ordered it in 1941, they wanted it as a dive bomber—a role it was never designed for. By the time it reached operational units in 1943, American bombers destroyed virtually every example on the ground before they could fly a single combat mission. This is the story of right aircraft, wrong time, wrong role, wrong war. KEY SPECIFICATIONS (Ro.57 Fighter Version): • Crew: 1 • Engines: 2x Fiat A.74 RC.38 radials (840 hp each) • Max Speed: 320+ mph • Range: 745 miles • Empty Weight: 6,856 lbs • Armament: 2x Breda-SAFAT 12.7mm machine guns • First Flight: 1939 • Production: ~75 built (Ro.57bis variant) • Combat Missions: ZERO (all destroyed on ground) KEY SPECIFICATIONS (Ro.57bis Dive Bomber): • Max Speed: 298 mph (reduced) • Bomb Load: 1x 500kg + 2x 250kg bombs • Optional Armament: 2x MG 151 20mm cannons • Problems: Engine overheating, stability issues, underpowered CONTEXT: IMAM correctly predicted Italy would need long-range fighters but designed the Ro.57 without an official Air Ministry specification. When tested in 1939, it performed well—faster than the MC.200 with much better range. But Italy was already at maximum aircraft production capacity, and adding a new type meant disrupting output of proven designs. The Ro.57 sat ignored for two years. After the catastrophic failure of the Breda Ba.88, the Air Ministry desperately needed a replacement ground-attack aircraft. They ordered IMAM to convert the Ro.57 into a dive bomber—a role it wasn't designed for. The resulting Ro.57bis was compromised: slower, less stable, prone to overheating. But production began anyway. Of ~75 built, 50-60 were delivered to squadrons in southern Italy in mid-1943. Before they could enter combat, a massive USAAF B-24 raid destroyed virtually all of them on the ground. Italy surrendered weeks later. The Ro.57 never flew a single combat mission. IRONIES: Designed for long-range fighter role Italy desperately needed Ignored while Italy fought in exact theaters where it would excel Finally ordered for wrong role after two years of war Destroyed by enemy bombers before ever dropping a bomb NEXT VIDEO: IMAM wasn't done with the Ro.57 concept. They recognized the engine was the problem. And they tried one more time with significantly more power... #IMAMRo57 #ItalianAircraft #WWII #RegiaAeronautica #ForgottenAircraft #TwinEngineFighter #WastedPotential 📺 RELATED PLAYLISTS: • British WWII Aircraft:    / watchv=qimhvv6pre8&list=plcehin6dhwilpwagz...   • WWII German Aircraft:    / watchv=__drphxfkww&list=plcehin6dhwil2f8ui...   • WWII Japanese Aircraft:    / watchv=8s5thv6nzo&list=plcehin6dhwikpqf9eg...   • B-17 Flying Fortress Stories:    • Frankenstein B17G bomber with jet engines,...   🔔 Subscribe for more stories about the forgotten, unusual, and overlooked aircraft of WWII. Copyright Disclaimer: - Under section 107 of the copyright Act 1976, allowance is mad for FAIR USE for purpose such a as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statues that might otherwise be infringing. Non- Profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of FAIR USE