Caproni about 5

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Caproni about 5
Caproni about 5
Type: bomber
Design country:

Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Italy

Manufacturer:

Caproni

First flight:

March 1917

Commissioning:

1918

Number of pieces:

659

View of the mid-engine and the tail unit

The Caproni Ca.5 was a four-seat heavy Italian bomber aircraft that was developed during the First World War . It was a three-engine biplane made of wood and had a non-retractable landing gear with a tail spur. The entire machine was covered with fabric. The Ca.5 was the completion of a development that had started with the Caproni Ca.1 .

history

The development of the Ca.5 began when it became apparent that the previous models could no longer have a militarily relevant effect. Caproni therefore increased the engine power. Compared to the Caproni Ca.3 , the airframe was changed and a completely new structure was designed. The first flight of the Ca.5 took place in March 1917, the exact date has not been recorded.

Originally a huge mass production of this type was planned. A production plan for 3650 machines was drawn up for various Italian manufacturing companies and extensive expansion work began on the existing plants. The early specimens were not as efficient and reliable as expected. The machines with the in-line six-cylinder Fiat A.12 could not convince. Delivered copies were never used in action. The change of engine to Isotta Fraschini improved the situation somewhat. By the end of the First World War, only a few dozen machines were manufactured at Caproni. Efforts were made to manufacture the machine under license in the USA, but only three machines were manufactured there. Similar plans for France failed a priori.

After the war, attempts were made to convert the bomber into a civil aircraft type. In August 1919, such a machine crashed during a demonstration flight, killing 17 people. This was the most serious accident to date with an airplane .

Despite the shortcomings, the machine - partly with improved engines - remained in production until 1921 and a total of 659 (three license) machines of this type were produced.

variants

  • 44 - main type, initially powered by three Fiat A.12s, each with 202 hp (Caproni 600 hp). Later the improved Fiat A.12bis was used and the machine was named Caproni 600/900 hp
  • 45 - version for the French armed forces with three Isotta Fraschini V.6s with 253 hp each (designation Caproni 600/750 hp)
  • Approx . 46 - later variant with three 12-cylinder V-engines Liberty L-12 , each 366 hp.
  • Approx . 47 - seaplane variant (also called I.Ca), ten made
  • Around 50 - variant as an ambulance aircraft
  • About 57 - (also Breda M-1 ) - was the civil version

Military use

Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Italy
United States 48United States United States

Technical specifications

Parameter Data
crew 4th
length 12.60 m
span 23.42 m
height 4.41 m
Wing area 150 m²
Empty mass 3300 kg
Max. Takeoff mass 4600 kg
Cruising speed ? km / h
Top speed 150 km / h
Service ceiling 4600 m
Range 600 km
Engines 3 × 6-cylinder in-line engines Fiat A.12 with 184 kW each
Armament 2 to 4 Revelli MG
533 kg bombs

See also

Web links