IMAM Ro.10

The IMAM Ro.10 was a low‑wing, single‑engine trainer and liaison aircraft produced in the late 1930s by the Italian company Meridionali (Industrie Meccaniche Aeronautiche Meridionali). Designed by engineer Francesco Ruzzetti, the Ro.10 derived its basic layout from the earlier Ro.1 and Ro.2 series but incorporated a more powerful Alfa Romeo 115‑cubic‑metre radial engine, delivering roughly 225 hp. Its all‑metal fuselage, wooden wing structure and fixed tailwheel undercarriage gave the type a sturdy yet lightweight construction, while a fully enclosed cockpit with dual controls made it suitable for pilot instruction, short‑range reconnaissance and army liaison duties.

First flight took place in March 1938, and the aircraft quickly entered service with the Regia Aeronautica’s training schools. Although only a modest production run—approximately 70 airframes—was completed before Italy’s entry into World War II, the Ro.10 proved valuable for familiarising pilots with more advanced monoplanes, thanks to its forgiving handling and relatively high roll rate. Its role as a bridge between elementary trainers and front‑line fighters helped standardise pilot training procedures, and the design’s aerodynamic refinements influenced later Meridionali projects such as the Ro.14 and Ro.15. In retrospect, the Ro.10 represents a noteworthy example of interwar Italian innovation, embodying the transition toward modern, all‑metal aircraft that would dominate later wartime aviation.