Why Italy turned to IMAM for specialist aircraft

IMAM grew out of Nicola Romeo's wider engineering interests, beginning as an aviation division before becoming a specialist manufacturer. Aeronautical engineer Alessandro Tonini focused on aerodynamics, and aircraft production began in Naples in 1927. Its designs pursued speed and agility while retaining the ruggedness required for niche military work. Production runs were often small because the requirements were specialized. Those qualities could also have made IMAM the basis of an Italian carrier-aircraft industry if the Regia Marina had controlled its own fleet air arm. In practice, the firm supplied the navy's entire floatplane force at several points despite receiving limited industrial priority.