The R-38 fighter was a modernized version of the R-36 aircraft. The new aircraft was designed by Alfred Renard for the Aéronautique Militaire Belge (Belgian Air Force). At the request of the military the aircraft was equipped with a twelve-cylinder Rolls-Royce Merlin II.
The first flight of the prototype, OO-ATK was on  July 18, 1939. On 4 August 1939 the plane was flight tested at SABCA factory under the supervision of representatives of the Belgian Air Force. On trials the aircraft showed good performance characteristics, in particular the maximum speed of 545 km / h was reached . Further testing was prevented because of the invasion of German troops. To continue the work, it was evacuated to France to an airfield near Bordeaux , where it was captured by the Germans.
Type Single seat fighter
Engine 1 Rolls Royce Merlin II
Dimensions Length 8,80 m , height 2,90 m ,  span 11,64 m , wing area  20 m2 ,
Weights Empty 1950 kg, loaded  , max. take off weight 2600 kg  
Performance Max.. speed at sea level 430 km/h, at 5000 m 545 km/h  , range 1350 km , service ceiling 12900 m  , climb to 5000 m 5 min. 22 sec.
Armament 4  FN Browning 7,7 mm machine guns, 8 10 kg bombs
Type Werk.Nr Registration History
OO-ATK First flight 18/7 1939