F. Giulli IMAM Ro.57bis.zip 2024-05-03

In May 1939, on the occasion of the First International Aeronautical Journalists’ Congress held in Rome (Guidonia), the prototype was analyzed by a group of Italian and foreign pilots, who appreciated its qualities. The RO57 displayed itself better, in almost all the performances, than Macchi MC200 (the best national single-engine fighter), but shown soon a fault in the weaponry (only two 12.7 mm Breda Safat). In 1941, IMAM proposed a new version (Bis) armed with two 20 mm guns and designed to carry a 500 kg bomb. The Regia Aeronautica ordered 90 units for dive bombing. In February 1943, the first aircrafts were deployed to the Rome-Ciampino-based 97o Gruppo Autonomo.