MERIDIONALI RO 57

The IMAM Ro.57 was an Italian twin-engined, single-seat monoplane fighter of the Regia Aeronautica. Based on a 1939 design by Giovanni Galasso the aircraft did not enter production until 1943. By the time it entered service it was considered obsolete.

Two hundred aircraft were ordered, but only 50-75 were produced in two versions, one flown as an interceptor, the other in the role of a ground attack aircraft.

The Ro.57 was preceded by another twin engine fighter design, the Ro.53, which never entered production. The Ro.57 consisted of an all-metal, semi-monocoque fuselage with a steel skeleton and Duralumin structure. The wings were also Duralumin.

Powered by two 840 hp (630 kW) Fiat A.74 radial engines giving a maximum speed of 516 km/h, which in 1939 was better than that of the main Italian fighter, the Macchi C.200 (504 km/h). After testing at Guidonia it was proposed by IMAM for use as a dive bomber. This transformation, which involved the addition of dive brakes, provision for 500 kg bombs and an improved forward firing armament (adding two 20 mm cannon), took time and delayed production. 

The resulting aircraft was designated the Ro.57bis. Performance dropped to 457 km/h maximum speed and to 350 km/h at cruise speed. The Ro.57bis was ordered into production in 1942 and entered service with the 97° Gruppo in 1943. About 50-60 aircraft were delivered.

It is said that the Ro.57 could have been the long range interceptor that Italy lacked throughout the war. It proved to be too costly for the limited weapons it carried and it never was assigned a clear role[citation needed]. A better-armed version with more powerful engines was developed as the Ro.58.

General characteristics
Crew: One
Length: 8.80 m 
Wingspan: 12.50 m 
Height: 2.90 m 
Wing area: 23.0 m² 
Empty weight: 3,497 kg 
Loaded weight: 5,000 kg 
Powerplant: 2 × Fiat A.74 R.C.38 14-cylinder radial engines, 627 kW (840 hp) each
Maximum speed: 501 km/h at 5,000 m
Cruise speed: 390 km/h 
Range: 1,200 km 
Service ceiling: 7,800 m 
Wing loading: 217 kg/m² 
Power/mass: 0.25 kW/kg 
Climb to 6,000 m  9 min 30 sec
Armament: 2 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns