Fiat Aviazione R.22 — Primary-Source Documentation Collection

The Fiat R.22 was Italy’s principal single-engine two-seat biplane reconnaissance aircraft of the late 1920s and 1930s, developed by Fiat Aviazione as an all-metal derivative of the Fiat B.R.2 bomber line. Built in small numbers — 2 prototypes and 23 production aircraft — it equipped Regia Aeronautica reconnaissance squadrons from 1927 until officially declared obsolete in 1938. Original primary-source documentation for this rare type is exceptionally scarce; this collection assembles the three surviving factory and Ministero dell’Aeronautica documents covering the airframe and its Fiat A.22 powerplant.

Design & Structure

• Role: Two-seat military observation and reconnaissance biplane.
• Structure: All-metal derivative of the Fiat B.R.2 bomber line; welded steel-tube fuselage with fabric-covered skin; independent wheel landing gear.
• Armament: Two forward-facing synchronized 7.7 mm machine guns; one (or two) rear machine guns on a flexible ring mount.

Performance Data

Engine Technical Notes — Fiat A.22

• Type: Liquid-cooled upright 60° V-12, designed by legendary engineer Tranquillo Zerbi.
• Power Output: 550 CV (405 kW / 570 hp).
• Displacement: 27.5 litres (1,678 cu in).
• Historical Note: Conceived during post-WWI material scarcity, the A.22 prioritized structural simplicity. It was later adapted into the high-performance AS.2 and AS.3 engines for the Schneider Trophy air races — one of the most celebrated engine lineages in Italian aviation history.

Operational History

The R.22 entered service in 1927 equipping Italian reconnaissance squadrons for domestic defense and regional duties. It made international appearances including an emergency landing near Amsterdam in July 1928. The Regia Aeronautica officially declared the final units obsolete in 1938. Original engineering bulletins, wind-tunnel logs, and handling sheets remain in specialized repositories: the Aeronautica Militare Italiana Historical Office and the Centro Storico Fiat in Turin.

Collection Manifest

Total Manuals: 3

• R.22 Operating & Maintenance: Apparecchio Fiat Tipo R.22 — Istruzioni per il Montaggio e la Regolazione — Ministero dell’Aeronautica, Direzione Generale del Genio — Roma 1933 (Italian Language)
• R.22 Engine — Operating Instructions: Istruzioni per l’Uso del Motore Fiat A-22 T (V Serie) — Ministero dell’Aeronautica, Direzione Generale delle Costruzioni e degli Approvvigionamenti — Roma, Provveditorato Generale dello Stato, Libreria — 1930 (VIII) (Italian Language)
• R.22 Engine — Illustrated Parts Catalogue: Catalogo Nomenclatore per Motore Fiat A 22 R (del 5° motore) — Provvisorio — Nomenclatore del Materiale Speciale d’Aeronautica, Vol. 4°, Categoria IV, Fascicolo 2bis — Ministero dell’Aeronautica — La Grafica Moderna, Torino — 1930 Anno VIII (Italian Language)

⚠️ Regulatory Notice: Under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13 and EASA Part-M, any mechanic performing maintenance on an active aircraft must use current, manufacturer-approved revision-controlled data. This archival document does not satisfy that requirement.

This is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorized distributor.
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