 It holds the distinction of being the first aircraft to be designed by Reggiane to employ aluminum stressed skin construction, as opposed to the wooden or mixed wood and metal structures that had been traditionally used in contemporary Italian aircraft such as the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 (which had been previously produced by Reggiane under license).The stressed skin fuselage was highly streamlined, save for the protrusions of the hard-rivetted finish.The majority of the aircraft's exterior, including the tail, was metal-skinned; however, the control surfaces had fabric coverings.