Italy’s Forgotten Flyers: 10 Incredible Planes from the 1930s You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Before WWII, Italy quietly became a breeding ground for bold aviation innovation. From record-setting racers to floatplanes with folding wings, here are 10 Italian aircraft that deserve a second look.

When we think of 1930s aviation, most minds jump to Britain’s Supermarine designs or Germany’s Luftwaffe. But Italy? Italy was out there breaking speed records, launching catapult planes from cruisers, and building some of the most fascinating aircraft the world has forgotten.

Here are ten of them—some fast, some strange, and all worth remembering.

Macchi-Castoldi M.C.72

A fire-red, record-breaking speed demon that still holds the piston-engine world record: 440.67 mph, set in 1934. With a 2,800-horsepower twin-prop engine and a symmetrical airfoil ahead of its time, the M.C.72 wasn’t just fast—it was revolutionary.

Savoia-Marchetti S-79 & S-79B

Known as Il Gobbo Maledetto (“The Damned Hunchback”), this tri-motored oddball broke records and won the hearts of its crews. The S-79B military variant even beat the American Martin 139 in performance trials in Argentina—though politics handed the contract elsewhere.

Cant Z.506

A trim wooden floatplane with three radial engines and a seaplane speed record. Its ironic registration code—“I-CANT”—didn’t stop it from flying over 200 mph and serving admirably in both civil and military roles.

Breda 88

This sleek twin-engine bomber-fighter shocked the world in 1937 by flying a 100 km course at 321 mph. What made it more impressive? It was a standard military production model, not a stripped-down racer.

Breda 64

Designed as a light bomber and fighter, this plane came loaded with innovative features: remote-controlled wing guns, hydraulic turret movement, and internal bomb bays. It could cruise 1,240 miles—and look sharp doing it.

Breda 65

A direct upgrade of the 64 with composite wing construction and a more powerful engine. Italian authorities claimed a 300 mph cruising speed—making it a formidable multi-role aircraft in its time.

Romeo RO-37

This biplane observation aircraft featured both water-cooled and radial engine options and carried three machine guns plus twelve small bombs. Think of it as Italy’s eyes in the sky during the interwar years.

Romeo RO-41

A single-seat gull-wing biplane with a unique silhouette and a top speed just over 200 mph. It may have been a trainer, but it was no pushover.

Romeo RO-43

This floatplane was designed for catapult launch from Italian naval ships. It carried part of its fuel in the pontoon and had folding wings—practical innovations decades ahead of their time.

Caproni, Fiat, and the Future

Though not featured individually here, companies like Caproni and Fiat were already laying the groundwork for aircraft that would see combat in WWII. The 1930s were their launchpad.

A Forgotten Legacy Worth Rediscovering

Many of these Italian designs served in conflicts like the Spanish Civil War and the Ethiopian campaign. Others were sidelined by war or politics. But make no mistake—Italy’s aviation industry in the 1930s was bold, experimental, and far more advanced than most people realize.

So next time you hear someone talk about early aviation innovation, remind them: the skies over Rome were busy long before the war began.

Until next time, keep your eyes to the skies!