Warbird Information Exchange

Many folks here will remember the discovery of several relics thought to be extinct in an Afghan junkyard about 7-8 years ago, including Renault FT-17 tanks, the remains of several Hawker biplanes, and at least two IMAM Ro-37s. One of those ultra-rare Italian beauties has now been fully restored and revealed to the public, and it is a jaw-dropper by any standard.

From http://webcommunity.ilvolo.it/presentaz ... 15712.html:



































What an absolute stunner of a restoration, easily one of my favorites from the last few years! Congratulations to the restoration team on an OUTSTANDING job!!!

Lynn

WOW, that is very nice. thanks for posting!

Magnificent !

And a day late!


viewtopic.php?f=3&t=44208

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Very beautiful restoration. Immaculate workmanship throughout!

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A&P/I.A., A.A.S./Aviation Maintenance technology
Warbird salvage/recovery
One day I'll get that P-40!

Love the before pics ! Thank you .

Looked like a political thread, I didn't click on it. Plus, I cross-posted pictures, so BOOYAH!

Lynn

I forgive you. Double secret boogity-booyah!

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Love those big '30s observation biplanes - looks like the Italian equivalent of our O-38. Was enough salvaged to build more than one example?
Also noted those unusual wheels - wire spokes on one side and cast on the other. Why were they made like that?

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

I think that the cast portion is not part of the wheel per se. It doesn't seem to extend all the way to the rim. I wonder if it could be some type of fairing or a mount for wheel pants? Maybe part of the braking system? Gloster Gladiators had some kind of internally sprung wheel so that the aircraft did not need oleo struts for shock absorption. Could the Italian wheels be similar?

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"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

Another pic of the airframes that were recovered. Six in total.

Also, on November 18, 2011, the Italian Air Force Museum at Vigna di Valle unveiled their newly restored Imam Ro.43 ‘Cricket’, a navalized version of the Ro.37. This plane had been in storage since 1972 awaiting funding for restoration and wasn’t recovered from Afghanistan. Its main difference, other than the floats, is the gull-wing, which folds back for storage on cruisers and battleships.

This is just too cool for words!

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S.

Hi.
The Ro 43 hasn't been in storage,but on public display since at least 1977,when the museum opened to the public.
Legend has it that it was re-discovered hidden behind a brick wall in Guidonia (Rome) in 1972 and then transported to Vigna di Valle A.M.I. Museum.
It was in near perfect condition and was exhibited as it was.
The restoration took way longer than preventivated for corrosion was found on all of the flying surfaces and also it was decided to have wholly new fabric for the fuselage too.
There is also an ongoing restoration project for a Ro 41,progressing rather slowly for the cooperation from A.M.I. is limited to hosting the airframe at VdV and the few original parts remaining.
Also,all three were made in Naples Capodichino,by I.M.A.M and I live here,and happily.
In the photograph from Afghanistan the airframes look to be seven,the engineless one lying in front of the others.
The hulk to the top left (inverted)looks very much like a Mi 24 Hind.
Interesting consideration is that both the Romeos (Ro) and the Renault tanks were still very much property of the Afghan government.
Sanitizing,so to say,the Romeo hulks proved to be 'interesting',they were full of scorpions nest.

Hi Flagon,

Thanks for the additional information. I agree there are seven Ro.37s in the photo. I also count six engines, four or five that look complete. The Aeronautica Militare website article says six planes and three engines were brought back. I wonder if they had to leave some behind as part of the agreement to take the others. The article also has more photos and a couple of videos.

http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/News/P ... 00112.aspx

I had a hard time finding much information on the Ro.43 restoration. Thanks for the details.