RS.14

The RS.14 was a twin‑engine reconnaissance and light bomber designed in Italy during the late 1930s by the renowned aeronautical engineer Celestino Rosatelli. First flown in 1939, the aircraft entered service with the Regia Aeronautica in early 1940, where it performed maritime patrol, photo‑reconnaissance, and limited tactical bombing missions over the Mediterranean theater. Built by Aeronautica Macchi, the RS.14 featured a low‑wing monoplane layout, retractable landing gear, and an all‑metal stressed‑skin fuselage that gave it a sleek, aerodynamic profile. Power came from two Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34 radial engines delivering 750 horsepower each, allowing a maximum speed of roughly 400 km/h and a range of 1,500 km—an impressive combination of speed and endurance for its class. The aircraft’s crew of three operated a modest yet effective armament suite that included a forward‑firing 12.7 mm machine gun, a rear defensive gun, and a payload capacity of up to 500 kg of bombs or depth charges. Although only a few hundred were built before production ceased in 1943, the RS.14 demonstrated Rosatelli’s skill in balancing performance with operational versatility, influencing later Italian designs and cementing its place as a noteworthy example of pre‑war Italian aeronautical engineering.

Celestino Rosatelli

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification