Romano R.5

{{Infobox aircraft | name = Romano R.5 | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Reconnaissance flying boat | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = France | manufacturer = Chantiers aéronavals Étienne Romano | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | 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 = September 1932 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Romano R.5''' was a French reconnaissance flying boat built in 1932. It had a parasol wing, a single engine and hull stabilizing sponsons. Only one was built.

==Design==

In 1929 the French Air Ministry drew up a programme of military aircraft specifications to meet France's needs over the next few years. One part called for a reconnaissance and observation seaplane and the R.5 was Romano's response; at least two other manufacturers also built prototypes, though funding was not yet assured.<ref name=CASP/>

The Romano R.5 was an all-metal flying boat. Its parasol wing was built in three parts; its centre section mounted a {{convert|650|hp|kW|abbr=on|order=flip}} Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr water-cooled V-12 engine in tractor configuration on its leading edge and was braced {{convert|1650|mm|in|abbr=on}} over the fuselage by parallel pairs of struts from its outer ends to the mid-fuselage. Six short cabane struts braced it centrally. The inner and cantilever outer panels together provided a trapezoidal plan wing out to rounded tips; ailerons occupied most of the outer panels' trailing edges. Structurally a mixture of steel and duralumin, with dural skinning, the wing was built around two spars; in the centre section these were elaborated into a trellised girder.<ref name=Lailes2/>

Its {{convert|15|m|ftin|adj=mid|-long}}, flat-sided hull was built with of dural and with vedal, layers of dural and pure aluminium, for parts in direct contact with sea-water. The V-form underside had a single step under the wing and, further aft, a water rudder. The R.5 had a pair of Dornier-style sponsons, {{convert|6.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}} in span and {{convert|2.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} at their broadest, mounted on the lower sides of the fuselage instead of wing mounted floats. There were plans to use these to contain retractable wheels to turn the R.5 into an amphibian.<ref name=Lailes2/>

In the nose there was a position for mooring operations, navigation equipment and a machine gun mounting. The pilots' cabin was ahead of the propeller disc, fully enclosed and with side-by-side seats and dual controls. Behind the wing there were positions for a navigator who also operated the bomb release controls and for a radio and camera operator. Behind them was a dorsal gunner's position, midway between the trailing edge and the tail. The fuselage became slender to the rear, where the tall fin carried a deep, rounded unbalanced rudder. The R.5's tapered tailplane was raised out of the spray well up on the fin and supported from below with a pair of parallel struts from the upper fuselage. Its elevators were inset and unbalanced but far enough forward to only require a small central nick for rudder movement.<ref name=Lailes2/>

The Romano R.5 first flew in September 1932. Soon after, it was delivered to the ''Forces Aérienne de la Mer'' along with its competitors, the Amiot 110-S and CAMS 80.<ref name=CASP/>

==Specifications== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Les Ailes, November 1932<ref name=Lailes2/> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=217 |max speed note= at {{convert|1500|m|ft|abbr=on}} |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km=1500 |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m=6700 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude=6 min 5 sec to {{convert|1500|m|ft|abbr=on}} |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |thrust/weight=

|more performance=  |armament= |guns= |bombs= |avionics= }}

==References== <references>

<ref name=CASP>{{cite web |url=http://www.cannes-aero-patrimoine.net/pdf/pub/caspk_APADH__005_Jung_His_Cannes.pdf |title=Cannes Aéro Spatial Patrimoine |page=3|author=Phillipe Jung |date=December 2011 |accessdate= 4 February 2016}}</ref>

<ref name=Lailes2>{{cite journal |date=17 November 1932|title=L'hydravion de reconnaissance Romano R-5|journal=Les Ailes|volume=596 |pages=3|url=http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6560192n/f3 }}</ref>

</references>

===Further reading=== * {{cite journal |date=7 July 1932|title=Visite aux Chantiers Romano|journal=Les Ailes|volume=577 |pages=8|url=http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k65601739/f8 }}

Category:Parasol-wing aircraft Category:Flying boats Category:1930s French military reconnaissance aircraft R.5 Category:Aircraft first flown in 1932