The Romano R-82 was a two-seat
intermediate and aerobatic trainer designed by
Etienne Romano with production aircraft built by
Chantiers aéronavals Étienne Romano.
Design and development
The prototype Romano R-80.01 was a private venture design by Chantiers aéronavals Étienne Romano for a two-seat aerobatic biplane to use as a demonstrator. Tested in 1935 with a 179 kW (240 hp)
Lorraine 7Me radial engine it was later fitted with a 209 kW (280 hp)
Salmson 9Aba radial and re-designated the R-80.2. The R.80.2 was a
biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...
with a fixed
tailwheel landing gear
Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms ...
and with the change of scope to a tandem two-seat dual-control
aerobatic
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in conventional passenger-carrying flights. The term is a portmanteau of "aerial" and "acrobatics". Aerobatics are performed in aeroplanes and glid ...
trainer it was re-designated the R.82.01. Two more prototypes were built which were sold to private owners. Romano became part of the nationalised
SNCASE in 1937 and the
French Air Force
The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Army; ...
ordered the R-82 into production with 147 aircraft being delivered. The
French Navy
The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...
also ordered 30 R-82s and all Air Force and Navy aircraft had been delivered by May 1940.
In 1938 two aircraft were ferried to Spain and used by the
Spanish Republican government in the fight against the Nationalist faction.
Operators
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French Air Force
The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Army; ...
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French Navy
The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...
;
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Spanish Republican Air Force
The Spanish Republican Air Force was the air arm of the Armed Forces of the Second Spanish Republic, the legally established government of Spain between 1931 and 1939.
Initially divided into two branches: Military Aeronautics ('' Aeronáutica M ...
Specifications (R-82)
See also
References
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External links
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Third Reich troops and captured Romano R.82 aircraft{{Romano aircraft
1930s French military trainer aircraft
R.82
Single-engined tractor aircraft
Biplanes
Aircraft first flown in 1936