# IMAM Ro.58 > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/IMAM_Ro.58 > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/IMAM_Ro.58.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMAM_Ro.58 > Source revision: 1321141294 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Italian heavy fighter/attack aircraft prototype}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = Ro.58 | logo = | logo_size = | image = IMAMRo.58(2).jpeg | alt = | caption = Ro.58 prototype at [Guidonia Montecelio](/source/Guidonia_Montecelio) airport | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Heavy Fighter/[Ground Attack](/source/attack_aircraft) | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = | manufacturer = [Industrie Meccaniche e Aeronautiche Meridionali](/source/Industrie_Meccaniche_e_Aeronautiche_Meridionali) (IMAM) | design_group = | designer = Giovanni Galasso | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = [Regia Aeronautica](/source/Regia_Aeronautica) | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 1 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = May 1942 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = [IMAM Ro.57](/source/IMAM_Ro.57) | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''IMAM Ro.58''' was an Italian twin-engined, two-seat [monoplane](/source/monoplane) [heavy fighter](/source/heavy_fighter) and [attack aircraft](/source/attack_aircraft), a development of the [IMAM Ro.57](/source/IMAM_Ro.57). First flown in May 1942, it was considered a general improvement over its predecessor, mainly due to the substitution of higher power [Daimler-Benz DB 601](/source/Daimler-Benz_DB_601) engines for the [Fiat A.74](/source/Fiat_A.74) engines used on the Ro.57. Initially it had many problems and during the maiden flight only the proficiency of the test pilot, [Adriano Mantelli](/source/Adriano_Mantelli), saved the plane.Brotzu 1972, pages 33-35 It was easily recognizable because it appeared to have a long hump over the fuselage (to accommodate two crew members as opposed to one in the Ro.57). The Ro.58 was a twin-tailed aircraft, in layout similar to the [Messerschmitt Bf 110](/source/Messerschmitt_Bf_110). The performance of the aircraft with the DB 601 engines was much better than even many single engine fighters of the time (605 km/h at 5,000 m, 1,500 km endurance, 10,500 m ceiling). More heavily armed than its predecessor, with five forward-firing [MG 151](/source/MG_151_cannon)s; three in the nose and two under the belly (the underbelly guns were not present during the first flight tests) and one 12.7 mm rear-facing [Breda-SAFAT machine gun](/source/Breda-SAFAT_machine_gun). Tested alongside an [Me 410](/source/Messerschmitt_Me_410) it was found to be superior, but even so it initially had its share of problems that delayed production. By the time it was refined it was too late for Italy, and there were no resources even for single-engine fighters, much less the more expensive twin-engined ones. As with the Ro.57, which was not put into production in 1940 or 1941, the Ro.58, better armed and faster appeared only in May 1942, and too late to be produced in any numbers, as Italy surrendered to the Allies in September 1943. ==Specifications== One prototype only produced. {{Aircraft specs |ref= [http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/ro58.html Уголок неба — ''Ugolok Neba'' — "Sky Corner"] |prime units? = met |crew=Two |length m= 9.89 |length ft= 32 |length in= 4 |span m= 13.40 |span ft= 43 |span in= 10 |height m= 3.39 |height ft= 11 |height in= 1 |wing area sqm= 26.2 |wing area sqft= 282 |empty weight kg= 4,350 |empty weight lb= 9,570 |gross weight kg= 6,100 |gross weight lb= 13,420 |eng1 number= 2 |eng1 name= [Daimler-Benz DB 601](/source/Daimler-Benz_DB_601)A-1 |eng1 kw= 876 |eng1 hp= 1,175 |max speed kmh= 605 |max speed mph= 378 |range km= 1,500 |range miles= 940 |ceiling m= 9,800 |ceiling ft= 32,000 |armament = *3 × fixed, forward-firing 20 mm [MG 151](/source/MG_151) cannons in nose *2 × fixed, forward-firing 20 mm MG 151 cannons under belly *1 × flexible, rearward-firing 12.7 mm [Breda-SAFAT machine gun](/source/Breda-SAFAT_machine_gun) in rear cockpit |aspect ratio=6.85|wing loading kg/m2=232.8|power/mass=0.29 kW/kg (0.18hp/lb)}} ==See also== {{aircontent| |related= |similar aircraft= * [Bristol Beaufighter](/source/Bristol_Beaufighter) * [Messerschmitt Me 410](/source/Messerschmitt_Me_410) |sequence= |lists= *[List of aircraft of World War II](/source/List_of_aircraft_of_World_War_II) |see also= }} ==References== {{reflist}} ==Bibliography== {{commons category|IMAM Ro.58}} * {{cite book |last=Brotzu |first=Emilio |title=Dimensione Cielo vol. 3 |date=March 1972 |publisher=Edizioni Bizzarri |location=Rome |language=Italian}} * {{cite journal |last=Lembo |first=Daniele |title=Officine Ferroviarie Meridionali IMAM |journal=Aerei Nella Storia |issue=34 |date=November 2003 |publisher=Delta editions |location=Parma |language=Italian}} {{IMAM aircraft}} {{Portal bar|Italy|Companies|Aviation}} Ro.58 Category:1930s Italian fighter aircraft Category:Low-wing aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1942 Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [IMAM Ro.58](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMAM_Ro.58) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMAM_Ro.58?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.