Romano designations

lark · 13 October 2006

Romano R.2: an observation biplane of a seaplane configuration.

[quote author=hesham]Romano R.1 was biplane inspired by Wright design.[/quote]
The R 1 designed by Etienne Romano made only one very short fight in 1908.
It was not a so 'secret' a project.

Caravellarella · 27 April 2011

Dear Stéphane, is this all you will need to make a Romano designations list for Etienne Romano's aircraft?

The list comes from the 15th March 1967 issue of Aviation Magazine International......

Terry (Caravellarella)

Stargazer · 27 April 2011

How could I hope for more?!

I only had half of these... :

However, I have an "R.160" which doesn't appear here... An alternate designation for the R.16, maybe?

Caravellarella · 27 April 2011

Stargazer2006 said:
How could I hope for more?! I only had half of these... :

However, I have an "R.160" which doesn't appear here... An alternate designation for the R.16, maybe?

Who knows Stéphane; but the article is quite implicit that the R-130 biplane light fighter "project" was the final design to come out of the company......

Caravellarella · 27 April 2011

Stargazer2006 said:
How could I hope for more?! I only had half of these... :

However, I have an "R.160" which doesn't appear here... An alternate designation for the R.16, maybe?

R-16 - appelé ensuite R-160

......

lark · 27 April 2011

A small addition to the list:
Romano R70:two engined bomber monoplane with shoulderwing.Fixed u.c. and
enclosed noseturret.Probably based on the R60.
(noseturret patent 1933)

from the sadly gone AFM n° 14. 3/4-2007

Jos Heyman · 27 April 2011

R-160 = version of the R-16 with civilian registration F-AKGE.
R-162 = production version of the R-160 which was not built.

hesham · 28 April 2011

lark said:
A small addition to the list:
Romano R70:two engined bomber monoplane with shoulderwing.Fixed u.c. and
enclosed noseturret.Probably based on the R60.
(noseturret patent 1933)

from the sadly gone AFM n° 14. 3/4-2007

Great find my dear Lark,

thank you very much,and I think the R70 was submitted to the 1933 competition,
for Multi-seat combat aircraft,with the contenders; Farman F.420,Amiot-144,
Dewoitine D-420,Bloch-130,Breguet-460,Potez-541 and SAB-80 (Bordelaise).

c460 · 17 June 2014

Here is an attempt at a summary from the previous information, and from the website of Cannes Aéro Spatial Patrimoine:
http://www.cannes-aero-patrimoine.net/mediawiki/index.php/A%C3%A9ronefs_Romano
http://www.cannes-aero-patrimoine.net/pdf/pub/caspk_APADH__005_Jung_His_Cannes.pdf
There was also an article in issue no.14 of the defunct magazine AFM.

There is contradictory information about some numbers.

First aircraft Two-engine biplane, two Anzani 25 hp. One built in 1908. Designation R.1 given by Liron is uncertain.
R.1 or R.I Three-seat trainer biplane with removable hull, one Clerget 130 hp engine. One built in 1921-22, damaged and repaired with improvements.
R.2 or R.II (?) Jung speculates that it corresponds to a 1921 patent design with interchangeable floats and landing gear. Liron mentions a single-float seaplane with one Rhône 9C 80 hp engine, with a single example built in 1919. This is unconfirmed, and the date is contradicted by the research by Jung.
R.3 Single-float two-seat seaplane, one HS 8 Ab 180 hp. One built, 1924.
R.4 Single-float two-seat seaplane, one Salmson 9 A 230 hp. One built, 1927.
R.5 All-metal high-wing monoplane flying boat, one HS 12 Nbr 650 hp. One built, 1932.
R.6 or R.60 High-wing transport monoplane, three GR 7 Kb 300 hp. One built, 1932, F-AKGB then F-AJAB.
R.7 (?) Flying boat, one Salmson 9 Ac 120 hp. Project only, mentioned by Liron, unconfirmed since.
R.70 Two-engine high-wing monoplane bomber. Project only, known from a windtunnel model shown in AFM no.14 and a turret patent dated 1933.
R.80 Aerobatic biplane trainer, 1935. Two prototypes with Lorraine 7 Me 240 hp or Salmson 9 Aba 280 hp engine.
R.82 Serial production version of the R.80, with Salmson 9 Aba 280 hp. 180 built.
R.83 Variant of the R.82 license-built for Spain by the Belgian company LACEBA. 24 ordered, at least ten built.
R.90 Twin-float biplane fighter. One example built, 1935, with Hispano 9 Vbrs 650 hp, replaced by Hispano 14 Hbrs 680 hp, and later by Hispano 12 Ycrs 835 hp.
R.92 Land-based variant of the R.90. According to Liron, one example was built or converted for Spain.
R.100 Three-engine low-wing monoplane transport aircraft, with GR 14 Kdrs 900 hp. Project only.
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,12555.0.html
R.110 Three-seat monoplane heavy fighter or "aerial command post", two Renault 12 R 450 hp. One built.
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,12613.0.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8596.0.html
R.120 Two-engine bomber, with Hispano 14 Aa 980 hp. One built.
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,12572.0.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8596.0.html
R.130 Single-seat biplane fighter with retractable geat, one Renault 12 R-03 450 hp. Project only.
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,12549.0.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8596.0.html
R.131 Variant of the R.130 with Wright Cyclone. Project only, for Spain, perhaps not studied for real.
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,12549.0.html
R.15 Three-engine high-wing tourer, three Salmson 9-cyl. 75 hp. One built, 1933.
R.16 or R.160 High-wing colonial monoplane, three Lorraine 9 Na 300 hp. One built, 1933, F-AKGE.
R.162 Planned production version of the R.160, mentioned above by Jos Heyman. Project only.

hesham · 17 June 2014

Excellent my dear Adrien,

and I want to add,in my file,

R.60 was twin engined version of R.6,as transport aircraft.

c460 · 18 June 2014

hesham said:
R.60 was twin engined version of R.6,as transport aircraft.

Hi Hesham,
I'm curious, where did you find this information ?
In AFM no.14, Philippe Ricco says that the name of the R.6 was changed to R.60 ca. 1934, and shows a picture of the three-engined aircraft captioned as "R.60".
Adrien

hesham · 18 June 2014

That's I know my dear Adrien,and I will check.

hesham · 14 February 2015

Hi,

in the Aero Journal No.44 magazine,my dear Lark send to me the article about Romano
twin engined aircraft and projects,many thanks to him,but I don't know why they said
that;the designation R-150 which mentioned in Les Ailes magazine,was not exist,how
or why they sure for that far.

http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k65558767/f9.image

hesham · 19 May 2016

Hi,

the only Romano mystery is still here;

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,6957.msg59942.html#msg59942

rlucas · 24 November 2016

Interesting informations... Does someone have maybe information that was published on the R-6/R-15/R-160? I think there was maybe some pictures/drawings published in Aviation Magazine? Any information is appreciated

hesham · 24 November 2016

Hi Rlucas,

from my dear Toura,here is what I have.

giru-XX · 10 January 2017

some pictures of the Romano R-1 have just appeared here:

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/17-The-Ongoing-Mystery-Aircraft-Thread-Part-Deux?p=1061124&viewfull=1#post1061124

and here: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/17-The-Ongoing-Mystery-Aircraft-Thread-Part-Deux?p=1061269&viewfull=1#post1061269

Also note that a replica stands at the Musée de l'Hydraviation de Biscarrosse, France: http://www.sbap.be/museum/biscarosse/biscarosse.htm and https://www.flickr.com/photos/phantom2/16212263773/

hesham · 14 January 2017

Thank you Giru,and you are welcome.

hesham · 26 August 2018

hesham said:
in the Aero Journal No.44 magazine,my dear Lark send to me the article about Romano
twin engined aircraft and projects,many thanks to him,but I don't know why they said
that;the designation R-150 which mentioned in Les Ailes magazine,was not exist,how
or why they sure for that far.

http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k65558767/f9.image

I think this designation is true and maybe developed from R-15 ?.

Archibald · 27 August 2018

Every time I heard about this aircraft builder, I just can't help thinking about that

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLtFmoznC64

"Mais dehors, les romanos !"

hesham · 28 August 2018

hesham said:
hesham said:

in the Aero Journal No.44 magazine,my dear Lark send to me the article about Romano
twin engined aircraft and projects,many thanks to him,but I don't know why they said
that;the designation R-150 which mentioned in Les Ailes magazine,was not exist,how
or why they sure for that far.

http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k65558767/f9.image

Click to expand...

I think this designation is true and maybe developed from R-15 ?.

As we know,the R-130 was designed in 1934,and the company was very active in this period,
so I think there was more than this Project were designed,and the firm still up to 1936.

hesham · 6 September 2018

hesham said:
hesham said:

hesham said:

in the Aero Journal No.44 magazine,my dear Lark send to me the article about Romano
twin engined aircraft and projects,many thanks to him,but I don't know why they said
that;the designation R-150 which mentioned in Les Ailes magazine,was not exist,how
or why they sure for that far.

http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k65558767/f9.image

Click to expand...

I think this designation is true and maybe developed from R-15 ?.

Click to expand...

As we know,the R-130 was designed in 1934,and the company was very active in this period,
so I think there was more than this Project were designed,and the firm still up to 1936.

When you get more Info,you will find Aero Journal was wrong,in 1936 and
in Paris Salon,they displayed a seaplane flying boat Project intended for transatlantic role,and that emphasis my theory,that the company developed unknown Projects until 1936,and it's a proof.

hesham · 27 July 2020

To know Romano series,

the single number mean the Model designation Project,or it actually built until R4,and from R5 & R50,the addition Zero,was meant a prototype,and for production; the addition number changed into 2 or 3 if there was improvements or new concept,such as R8,became R80 as a prototype,R82 for production,and R83 for more modification,if the addition number was "1",that means a further developments,and if the addition number before the original one,means more improvements,such as R6 & R16.

hesham · 25 October 2020

hesham said:
To know Romano series,

the single number mean the Model designation Project,or it actually built until R4,and from R5 & R50,the addition Zero,was meant a prototype,and for production; the addition number changed into 2 or 3 if there was improvements or new concept,such as R8,became R80 as a prototype,R82 for production,and R83 for more modification,if the addition number was "1",that means a further developments,and if the addition number before the original one,means more improvements,such as R6 & R16.

From Aviation Magazine.

PhR · 10 March 2024

c460 said:
R.7 (?) Flying boat, one Salmson 9 Ac 120 hp. Project only, mentioned by Liron, unconfirmed since.

This is simply an hypothesis from Jean Liron, but unfortunately, he had no clue. The original plan does not show any designation.

PhR · 10 March 2024

c460 said:
R.83 Variant of the R.82 license-built for Spain by the Belgian company LACEBA. 24 ordered, at least ten built.

I do not agree with that. It was an error from Jean Liron in Aviation Magazine. The Romano 83 was the designation used for the single-seater version of the Romano 82 with smaller wingspan, delivered in Spain.
I published the detailed story of these planes in Avions N° 212 July/August 2016.

PhR · 14 March 2024

PhR said:
I do not agree with that. It was an error from Jean Liron in Aviation Magazine. The Romano 83 was the designation used for the single-seater version of the Romano 82 with smaller wingspan, delivered in Spain.
I published the detailed story of these planes in Avions N° 212 July/August 2016.

I forgot to precise that the first who clarified this Romano 83 identification was the Spanish historian David Gesali, in his Catalan-language book:

PhR · 9 October 2025

My own Romano designation list:

Designation	Date	Category	Comments
Unknown	1908	Experimental aircraft	1st flight 1908 Built in collaboration with Astruc 2 Anzani 25 hp engines 1 prototype
R 1	1921	Single-engine, three-seater biplane flying boat with a detachable hull	1st flight: January 22nd, 1922 at Cannes (Maïcon) Patent No. 544.015 (1921) 1 Clerget 9 B, 130 hp engine 1 prototype
R 2? (Pure hypothesis, no evidence)	1921	Single-engine biplane seaplane convertible into a landplane	Patent 544.015 (1921) Study only
R 3	1924	Experimental single-engine biplane seaplane	1st flight: 1924 1 Hispano Suiza 8 Ab, 180 hp engine Designed by Waldmann 1 prototype.
R 4	1927	Single-engine biplane surveillance seaplane	1st flight: 1927 at Cannes (Pugnetti) Re-engined derivative of the R 3 1 Salmson 9 Ab, 230 hp engine Designed by Waldmann 1 prototype.
R 5 → R 50 (6/1933)	1929	Single-engine coastal surveillance and observation flying boat	1st flight: September 1932 at Cannes (Boulic) 1 Hispano Suiza 12 Nbr, 650 hp engine 1 prototype.
R 6 → R 60 (1933)	1932	Three-engine colonial transport monoplane	1st flight: December 20th, 1932 at Cannes (Pierre Lemoigne, Lépine) 3 Gnome & Rhône 7 Kb, 300 hp engines Designed in collaboration with Caproni 1prototype (F-AKGJ)
R 7? (Pure hypothesis, no evidence)	1928	Single-engine touring and training flying boat	1 Salmson 9 Ac engine, 120 hp Project only
R 12		Four-engine monoplane seaplane	Designed by Caproni Project only
R 13	1944	Monoplane interceptor fighter and attack aircraft	1 Isotta Fraschini Delta IV° RC 60 series, 820 hp engine Designed by Lelio Rossi (Caproni) Project only
R 15	1932	Three-engine amphibious transport aircraft with floats	1st flight in 1933 3 Salmson 9 Aer, 75 hp engines Designed by Waldmann 1 prototype
R 16 → R 160 (5/1933)	1930	Col3: Three-engine monoplane for transport and colonial police	1st flight: February 1933 at Cannes (Lemoigne) Derived from Caproni 101 3 Lorraine 9 Na, 300 hp engines 1 prototype (F-AKGE)
R 22	1932	Monoplane exploration flying boat	3 Hispano-Suiza 12 XBr, 500 hp tractor engines Project only
R 22bis	1932	Monoplane exploration flying boat	Variant of R 22 with central propulsion engine 3 Hispano-Suiza 12 XBr, 500 hp engines Project only
R 50	1933	Single-engine coastal surveillance and observation flying boat	New designation of the R 5, modified with armament (June 1933) 1 Hispano Suiza 12 Nbr, 650 hp engine 1 prototype
R 60	1933	Three-engine colonial transport monoplane	New designation of R 6 after repairs and modifications (extended fuselage) 3 Gnome & Rhône 7 Kb, 300 hp engines 1 prototype (F-SJAB).
R 70	1933	Twin-engine monoplane bomber	Weapon turret: Patent 774.929 Project only
R 80	1934	ET2: Single-engine, two-seater biplane fighter trainer	1st flight: October 4th, 1934 at Cannes (Détroyat) 1 Lorraine 7 Me "Mizar", 240 hp engine, then 1 Lorraine "Algol", 300 hp engine (01 F-ANMP), or 1 Salmson 9 Aba, 280 hp engine (02) 2 prototypes (became R 82-01 and 02).
R 82	1934	ET2: Single-engine, two-seater biplane fighter trainer	1st flight : March 1936 at Cannes (Lemoigne) Production version of the R 80, with an enlarged fuselage 1 Salmson 9 Aba, 280 hp engine 2 prototypes (former R 80-01: F-AKHY and 02: F-APEV) + two pre-production aircraft + 182 units
R 82 allégé	1934	ET2 Light: Single-engine, two-seater conversion aircraft	Derived from R 82 lightened with folding wings Project only.
R 82bis		T2: Single-engine, two-seater biplane work aircraft	Two-seater work version of the R 82: 1 pilot + 1 observer 1 Salmson 9 Aba, 280 hp engine Project only
R 83	1938	C1: Single-engine, single-seat biplane fighter and trainer	1st flight: May 25th, 1938 at Cannes (Cornemont) R 82 modified into a single seater with shortened wings for Spain 1 Salmson 9 Aba, 280 hp engine 6 units
R 90	1933	HC1: Single-seat, single-engine, float-powered biplane fighter seaplane	1st flight: August 1935 at Cannes (Boulic) 1 Hispano Suiza 9 Vbrs, 650 hp engine (8/35), then 1 Hispano Suiza 14 Hbrs, 750 hp engine (10/35), then 1 Hispano Suiza 12 Yersl, 835 hp engine (1937, initially planned under the designation R 92) 1 prototype.
R 92	1936	Single-engine, single-seat biplane fighter aircraft	Land-based version of R 90 Project only
R 92 → R 90 (1937)	1937	Single-engine biplane fighter seaplane	1st flight in 1937 at Cannes (Roulland) 1 Hispano Suiza 12 Ycrs2, 860 hp engine 1 prototype built by converting the R 90 (R 92 designation abandoned before flights)
Unknown	1937	Single-engine, single-seat biplane fighter aircraft	1st flight in 1937, registered in Belgium? (not confirmed) Land version combining the R 83 and R 90 models for Spain 1 Hispano Suiza 12 Yersl, 835 hp engine Airframe series built by LACEBA, engines not received? 1 unit? + X unfinished units
R 100	1934	T30: 30-seat three-engine transport aircraft	For Air France 3 Gnome & Rhône 14 Kdrs, 900 hp engines Project only
R 110	1935	C3: Three-seater, twin-engine fighter command aircraft	1st flight March 30th, 1938 at Marignane (Lemoigne) 2 Renault 12 Ro2/3, 450 hp engines 1 prototype
R 111 →SE 300	1936	T3: Three-seater, twin-engine work plane	2 Renault 12 R0/1 engines Project only
R 120	1935	BN4: Four-seat, twin-engine medium bomber	1st flight: April 18th, 1939? in Cannes (not confirmed) 2 Hispano Suiza 14 Aa08/09, 980 hp engines 1 prototype
R 130	1934	C1 Light: Single-engine biplane fighter with retractable landing gear	1 Renault 12 R-03 engine, 450 hp Project only
R 131	1937	C1 Light: Single-engine biplane fighter with retractable landing gear	Re-engined derivative of the R 130 1 Wright Cyclone, 525 hp engine Project only
R 160	1933	Col3: Three-engine monoplane for transport and colonial police	New designation of the R 16 (May 1933) 3 Lorraine 9 Na, 300 hp engines 1 prototype (F-AKGE).

I attach an illustrated version of this list.

hesham · 9 October 2025

c460 said:
R.162 Planned production version of the R.160, mentioned above by Jos Heyman. Project only.

Amazing work as usual my dear Philippe,

for R.162,it was a real design,also R.150 in reply # 22 is still mystery

PhR · 9 October 2025

hesham said:
for R.162,it was a real design,also R.150 in reply # 22 is still mystery

I do not trace all speculations. All above in #28 is based on primary material, not just published in articles. I did not find reliable source confirming Romano 150 and 162 usage, so I choose to not consider them.

hesham · 9 October 2025

but Romano had two mysteries,

1- One in 1937/38,and that's R.150,maybe the designation was wrong,but that's unknown
aircraft project,powered by two engines

2- Second in 136,it was a transatlantic flying boat project,it was appeared in a model
form,maybe with three or four engines

PhR · 9 October 2025

hesham said:
1- One in 1937/38,and that's R.150,maybe the designation was wrong,but that's unknown
aircraft project,powered by two engines

I think that you refer to the article from "Les Ailes" issue of March 3rd, 1938. This article clearly contains a series of typos: it speaks about the conveyance of the R.160 from Cannes to Villacoublay, with an error about the number of engines.
Even if an R.150 project may have existed, although there is no evidence to support this hypothesis, it was never built and, of course, never flown.

hesham said:
2- Second in 136,it was a transatlantic flying boat project,it was appeared in a model
form,maybe with three or four engines

Interresting. Where is it possible to see it?

hesham · 10 October 2025

PhR said:
Interresting. Where is it possible to see it?

As I know,it was mentioned in the source like that,but if we can get the
Paris Salon list for all its aircraft displaying during 1920s and 1930s,it
will solve this problem ?.

PhR · 10 October 2025

hesham said:
As I know,it was mentioned in the source like that,but if we can get the
Paris Salon list for all its aircraft displaying during 1920s and 1930s,it
will solve this problem ?.

L'Aerophile provided a complete list of models displayed by Romano in 1936 exposition. I do not see mention of any kind of flying boat.

hesham · 10 October 2025

PhR said:
L'Aerophile provided a complete list of models displayed by Romano in 1936 exposition. I do not see mention of any kind of flying boat.

Of course I can't expose all my sources, but I will send to you PM, and they mentioned the date and
the design.

Stargazer · 12 October 2025

PhR said:
L'Aerophile provided a complete list of models displayed by Romano in 1936 exposition. I do not see mention of any kind of flying boat.

Same in the special issue of the Revue du Ministère de l'Air published in November 1936:

I would imagine that if a transatlantic flying boat project had existed in 1936, the company would have displayed it on its booth in model form like the others, and the French Ministry of Flight would have known about it! It doesn't mean that the project didn't exist, but not before December 1936 and not at the Salon.

Retrofit · 28 November 2025

From the book "SNCASE L'Usine de Marignane" André GUYON Aout 1973 Imprimerie Aérospatiale-Marignane

Romano designations

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