The Aeronautica Lombarda A.R, known as the A.R. da Assalto Radioguidato, was a medium wing semi-remotely piloted bomber created by the Italian company Aeronautica Lombarda during the early 1940s.
Crafted by a team of engineers led by Ermenegildo Preti and Stelio Frati, this aircraft was created to fulfill the requirements of the Regia Aeronautica for a cost-effective aerial bombing vehicle that could penetrate enemy territory.
Despite being approved and entering production, its progress was halted due to the events surrounding the Armistice of Cassibile.
The aeroplane possessed a fully wooden framework, featuring an oval-shaped fuselage that sloped towards the rear.
The fuselage was constructed using a sequence of well-arranged and streamlined wooden beams, covered by sturdy plywood panels.
It boasted a minimalistic cockpit, enclosed by a streamlined fairing accessible through a lower trapdoor.
This design enabled the pilot to take off even when fatigued from their duties.
The design incorporated a 700 L fuel tank and a load compartment, located behind and beneath the passenger area near the centre of gravity.
The load compartment featured two attachment points next to each other for 1,000 kg drop bombs without empennage, all enclosed by a removable tailgate.
Subsequently, it culminated in an empennage featuring sizable vertical and horizontal components, both exhibiting identical ribbing and encompassing movable elements that extended along their entire length.
The aircraft’s wing was a medium-sized monoplane with a trapezoidal shape, notable for its pronounced tapering at the tips and a distinct positive dihedral angle, which was implemented to guarantee optimal stability.
Due to the impossibility of re-entry, the aircraft was outfitted solely with ailerons, as the hyper-supports needed for landing were deemed unnecessary.
The trolley was securely attached, featuring cushioned legs of force, and had a detachable structure that could be released by the pilot after take-off, with the designer’s vision of being able to retrieve and reuse it.
The Fiat A.80 RC.41 engine, an air-cooled 18-cylinder double-star radial, was responsible for the propulsion.
It featured a gearbox connected to the propeller and a compressor designed for a recovery altitude of 4,100 m, providing 1,000 hp (735 kW) of power in that setup.
Positioned at the front of the fuselage and housed in a NACA canopy, it was paired with a three-blade propeller.
The armament, tailored to the specific operational requirements, included two 1,000 kg drop devices for offensive purposes.
