The B.R was a development of the
SIA 9 reconnaissance aircraft, incorporating major strengthening of that design. Its general layout was identical to its predecessor: a two-bay
biplane with tandem, open
cockpits for pilot and observer, and
tailskid undercarriage. Shortly after entering service with the
Regia Aeronautica, however, Rosatelli developed an improved version using the
Warren truss-style bracing that would become a hallmark of his designs over the next decade. The B.R. was evolved into a number of increasingly capable variants; however, by the time the later members of the family were produced, 15 years had passed since the initial design, and the type was already obsolete. At its peak, the BR equipped 15 light bomber squadrons of the
Regia Aeronautica. Two examples were also exported to Sweden, and one to Hungary. In 1922, a specially modified BR designated the
R.700 was used to set the absolute world airspeed record at 336 km/h (210 mph). The same aircraft was used to contest the
Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe in September that year. ==Variants==