PE7217 ROMEO RO.1 US SERVICE

The Romeo Ro.1 (another name: IMAM Ro.1) was an Italian reconnaissance plane and light bomber that was flown in 1926, and during its production around 450 machines of this type of various versions were created. The basic version of the plane was 9.46 meters long with a wingspan of 15.3 meters. The drive was provided by a single Alfa Romeo Jupiter IV engine with a maximum power of 420 HP. The top speed was 214 km / h. The on-board armament consisted of two 7.7 mm machine guns, and the machine could take up to 144 kg of bombs. Romeo Ro.1 was the license version of the Dutch Fokker C.VE. The plane was intended primarily for use by the Italian Air Force as a new reconnaissance machine and light bomber. The plane was used for the first time in combat in 1927 in Libya against local rebels, and later also in the Italo-Ethiopian war of 1935-1937. The plane was also used in Italy for long-term reconnaissance flights, which increased the duration of its stay in the air from 5 to 12 hours. An improved version of the Romeo Ro.1 was also developed with a Piaggio 550 HP engine and a new four-blade propeller. It is assumed that the last examples of this successful machine were withdrawn from service in 1939-1940.