The wartime Caproni Ca 225 was a two-seat low-wing attack bomber powered by two 800-h.p. Isotta-Fraschini Delta R.C.1750 engines. The Ca 225 was not tested.
Piston
Caproni Ca.193
The 1948 Caproni Ca.193 is a cantilever mid-wing monoplane powered by two 155 hp Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 engines driving two blade fixed pitch pusher propellers.
The cabin is forward of the main spar, giving appreciable sweep-back to the wing leading edge.
Construction is all-metal, the wing monospar with stressed skin covering. The fuselage is a monocoque and the dihedral tailplane has twin fins and rudders at the tip with statically and aerodynamically balanced trim tabs mounted in the movable surfaces. The designer was considering a single fin.
The cabin provides accommodation for five.
The only Caproni Ca.193 built was flown for the first time on 1947. The five/six seat pusher aircraft was displayed at the Venice Exposition.
Engines: 2 x Blackburn Cirrus Major III, 155 hp
Wingspan: 45 ft 3 in
Wing area: 205 sq.ft
Length: 29 ft 6 in
Height: 8 ft 2 in
Empty weight: 2685 lb
Loaded weight: 4185 lb
Useful load: 1500 kb
Max speed: 186 mph at SL
Max speed 9840 ft: 164 mph
Min speed no flap: 65 mph
Climb to 9840 ft: 14 min
Service ceiling: 17,700 ft
Caproni Ca. 183
The wartime Caproni Ca 183bis high-altitude fighter was under construction in 1943 and powered by a DB 605 engine and a 700-h.p. Fiat A.3D engine, the latter buried in the fuselage aft of the pilot’s cockpit driving a compressor for a Campini ducted-fan type unit. The Ca 183bis was not tested.
Caproni Ca.164
The Caproni Ca.164 was produced by Aeronautic Pedappio S.A., a division of the Caproni Group in 1937.
Powered by a 185 hp Alfa 115-1 engine, the Ca,164 was employed by the Regia Aeronautica during the war years.
Engine: 185 hp Alfa 115-1
Wingspan: 30 ft 10 in
Length: 22 ft 10 in
Height: 8 ft 6 in
Empty weight: 1873 lb
Loaded weight: 2600 lb
Max speed: 13 mph
Cruising speed: 115 mph
Range: 330 mi
Seats: 2
Caproni Ca.135 / SABCA S.45
Designed in mid¬ 1934 by Ing Cesare Pallavicino, the Ca 135 was a mid wing, twin tailed monoplane. The prototype, powered by two 836 hp Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI RC 40 engines, was built by Caproni Bergamaschi and flew for the first time on April 1, 1936.
Carrying a four man crew, the Ca 135 was armed with a single 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine gun in the nose, another in a ventral position, and one or two similiar guns in a Breda dorsal turret.
The Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI RC 40 was retained for the initial production version, and 32 were delivered to the Regia Aeronautica’s 330 and 340 Gruppi Bombardied from June 1938, and a further six (known as Tipo Peru) to the Peruvian air force in 1938 39.
The Regia Aeronautica Ca 135s were employed chiefly as bombing trainers, but those of the Hungarian air force (delivered in 1940 41) were used for bombing attacks in the Balkan campaign during the latter part of 1941, and on the southern part of the Eastern Front during the following year.
The maximum bombload, carried internally, amounted to 1862 kg (4105 lb) on the Ca 135 Asso, reducing to 1600 kg (3527 lb) on the Fiat and Piaggio engined versions. Two torpedoes could be carried instead of bombs.
Eight examples were completed of the Ca 135 S (Tipo Spagna), which differed in having 1000 hp Fiat A.80 RC 41 engines. These were intended for the Italian Legion fighting in the Spanish Civil War, but the first three were lost during delivery and the remaining five were delivered to the Regia Aeronautica.
The principal production version was the Ca 135 bis, of which 68 were ordered with 1000 hp Piaggio P.Xl RC 40 radial engines: 32 for the Regia Aeronautica and 36 (designated Ca 135 bis U) for the Hungarian air force. All 68 went to Hungary, the Regia Aeronautica making good the defi¬ciency by having 32 Asso engined Ca 135s refitted with the Piaggio engines. Total pro¬duction amounted to 115, includ¬ing the prototype.
(SABCA) made a marketing agreement with the Italian company Caproni, with SABCA selling some of Caproni’s military aircraft in certain markets, including the Caproni Ca.135, Ca.310 and the Ca.312, which were to be designated SABCA S.45bis, S.46 and S.48 respectively.
Ca.135 bis
Span: 18.80 m (61 ft 8.25 in)
Length: 13.70 m (44 ft 11.5 in)
Gross weight: 9500 kg (20944 lb)
Maximum speed: 428 km/h (266 mph)
Caproni Ca.133 / Ca.142 / Ca.148
An improved version of the Ca.101, the Ca.133 introduced a number of drag-reducing features, including long-chord engine cowlings, faired undercarriage legs and spatted wheels. The design of the tail unit was also improved. The Ca 133 used three 450‑hp Piaggio Stella, RVII C 14 radial engines, installed in NACA cowlings and driving two‑blade metal propellers.
The transport payload (it was built for both civil and military transport use) was increased eventually to 18 passengers, compared with only eight in the Ca 101. In the bomber role, the maximum internal/external bombload was still restricted to 500 kg (1102 lb), and the defensive armament of 4 7.7‑mm (0.303‑in) machine‑guns remained basically unaltered.
The Ca 133 made its operational debut in Ethiopia in 1936. On 6 March 1936, a Ca.133 made the first photo-reconnaissance sortie over the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in support of Italian operations. About 10 served with the Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War, and others were used as paratroop transports when Albania was invaded in 1939. Several squadrons of the Regia Aeronautica remained equipped with these aircraft when Italy entered the Second World War, but after early heavy losses in North Africa they were mostly removed to the Eastern Front or allocated to ambulance or other transport duties, designated respectively as Ca 133 S (Sanitaria) and Ca 133 T (Trasporto). Less official designations, bestowed as a result of the aircraft’s flying qualities, included the nicknames Caprona (she‑goat) or Vacca (cow). Nevertheless, some Ca 133s survived to serve, after the Italian surrender in 1943, with both the Co‑Belligerent Air Force and the Aviazione della RSI.
Out of 419 Ca.133s produced for the Regia Aeronautica, 329 were Ca.133T transports and 21 Ca.133S ambulance aircraft.
One additional example was built with retractable landing gear, the Ca 142.
The 18‑passenger civil transport version, the Ca 148 (106 built), had a number of improvements including a modified fuselage and a strengthened landing gear for operation in East Africa. The Ca.148 differed from the Ca.133 in having Piaggio d’Ascanio variable-pitch propeller. Loaded weight was increased to allow a normal load of 7716 lb. The cabin can accommodate 16 passengers, and a crew of two. The structure is of welded steel-tube with metal and fabric covering. Many of these were impressed for war service, operating also with Luftwaffe transport units; and several survived to serve with the post-war Italian air force.
Engines: 3 x 460hp Piaggio Stella P.VII C.16 7-cylinder radial engines
Max take-off weight: 6700 kg / 14771 lb
Wingspan: 21.24 m / 69 ft 8 in
Length: 15.36 m / 50 ft 5 in
Height: 4.00 m / 13 ft 1 in
Max. speed: 265 km/h / 165 mph
Ceiling: 5500 m / 18050 ft
Range: 1350 km / 839 miles
Crew: 3
Armament: 4 x 7.7mm machine guns, 1200kg of bombs
Ca.148
Engines: 3 x Piaggio Stella VII R.C, 460 hp
Wing span: 69 ft 8 in
Wing area: 700 sq.ft
Length: 50 ft 4 in
Height: 13 ft 1 in
Empty weight: 8580 lb
Loaded weight: 14,700 lb
Max speed: 174 mph at 5575 ft
Ceiling: 21,320 ft
Range: 838 mi
Caproni Ca.113
The Caproni Ca.113 two-seat advanced training and aerobatic biplane was produced in the early 1930s. Th wings were wood with fabric covering, and the fuselage and tail assembly had welded steel-tube frame0work covered with fabric. Differentially-controlled ailerons were fitted on the upper plane and small auxiliary balance surfaces were attached to the bottom planes. A special carburetter was fitted for inverted flying, and the type participated in a number of pre-war competitions.
Engine: Piaggio Stella VII, 370 hp
Wing area: 290.5 sq.ft
Wing span: 34 ft 5 in
Length: 23 ft 11 in
Height: ft 11 in
Empty weight: 1870 lb
Loaded weight: 2420 lb
Max speed: 155 mph
Time to 6560ft: 3.5 min
Ceiling: 24,600 ft
Range 186 mi
Seats: 2
Caproni Ca.111
The Ca 111 was a derivative of the Ca 101, and its prototype was converted from a Ca 101, the main difference being the substitution of a single 750 hp Isotta Fraschid Asso 750 RC engine in the nose, in place of the tri motor arrangement of the earlier aircraft. Carrying a crew of two to four, it was armed with up to four machine guns in dorsal, ventral and two beam positions, and could also carry a light bombload internally and/or externally.
A total of 152 was built for the Regia Aeronautica, in three main versions: the Ca 111 bis (750 hp Fiat A.80 engine), Ca 111 bis RC (Asso 750 RC engine), and a twin float torpedo bomber version of the latter designated Ca 111 bis Idro.
The landplane models gave widespread support to the Italian ground forces during the Ethiopian campaign of 1935 36, and some remained in service after Italy’s entry into the Second World War in 1940, when they were used as transports or for anti-partisan nuisance raids in the Balkan theatre of opera¬tions. One Ca 111 still survived at the time of the Italian surrender in September 1943.
Ca 111 bis
Engine: 750 hp Fiat A.80 engine
Ca 111 bis RC
Engine: Asso 750 RC, 970 hp.
Prop: 4 blade.
Wing span: 64 ft 7.5 in (19.68 m).
Length: 50 ft 2.25 in (15.30 m).
Wing area: 664.13 sq ft (61.70 sq.m)
Gross weight: 11,795 lb (5,350 kg)
Max speed: 186 mph (300 kph).
Range: 1,245 miles (2,000 km).
Accommodation: Crew of 3-4.
Ca 111 bis Idro
torpedo bomber version
Undercarriage: twin float
Caproni Ca.101 / Ca.102
The Ca 101 appeared with various power plants as a civil transport aircraft.
Characterized by a steel tube, square section fuselage, the Ca 101 was a high-wing strut-braced cabin monoplane, underpowered, and its payload (defensive armament plus 500 kg (1102 lb) of bombs, or eight passengers in a transport role, in addition to the crew of three) was modest.
It was developed originally for use by the Regia Aeronautica’s colonial and night bomber squadrons, and entered service with the Stormi da Bombardamento before Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia, employed on both attack and supply missions. After that campaign, it was phased out of the combat units and transferred to transport and ancillary duties. Most of those produced for military use, were powered by three 240 hp Alfa Romeo D.2 9 cylinder radial engines, driving two blade metal propellers.
Armament consisted of a free mounted dorsal 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine gun, with one or two similar guns mounted ventrally and, on occasion, two others firing through the side windows to protect it from beam attacks.
The Ca.101 D2 was powered by three 179kW Alfa Romeo D2 uncowled radial engines. Fitted with Handley Page leading-edge slats, the Ca.101s armament comprised four 7.7mm machine-guns firing from a retractable dorsal turret, a ventral bulge and lateral window ports. The bomb load was carried externally under the fuselage.
Overall production included 24 built by the Cantieri Aeronautici Bergamaschi, and some Ca 101s were still in service after Italy’s entry into the Second World War. These included about 20 supplied to the Hungarian air force, with which they served as transports on the Eastern Front until 1943, in spite of the relatively low payload which could be carried.
Also built in small numbers was a twin-engined derivative, the Ca 102, powered by a pair of 500 hp Bristol Jupiter radials. The Ca 102 quater was a variant of this with four engines mounted in tandem pairs. Although an experimental prototype only, it did serve operationally for a time with the 620 Sperimentali Bombardieri Pesanti (Experimental Heavy Bomber Squadron).
A few civil Ca.101s were flown on colonial passenger routes for several years (with various Walter, Piaggio and Alfa Romeo engines of 149-313kW).
Ca.101 D2
Engines: 3 x Piaggio “Stella VII”, 275kW
Max Take-off weight: 5135 kg / 11321 lb
Empty weight: 3435 kg / 7573 lb
Wingspan: 19.7 m / 64 ft 8 in
Length: 14.4 m / 47 ft 3 in
Height: 3.9 m / 12 ft 10 in
Wing area: 61.7 sq.m / 664.13 sq ft
Max. speed: 250 km/h / 155 mph
Cruise speed: 205 km/h / 127 mph
Ceiling: 6000 m / 19700 ft
Range w/max.fuel: 1000 km / 621 miles
Crew: 3-4
Armament: 2-4 machine-guns, 500kg of bombs
Caproni Ca.100 / KN-1
The Ca 100 has a lower wing of noticeably greater span than the upper wing, and about 700 aircraft were built from 1929. The type was bought by civil as well as military operators, and was flown with an assortment of engines including the original Gipsy, 63-kW (85-hp) Fiat A.50, 67-kW (90-hp) Blackburn Cirrus Minor, 86-kW (115-hp) Isotta Fraschini Asso 808, and 108-kW (145-hp) Colombo S.63.
The Ca 100bis is a touring model powered by a 130 hp de Havilland Gipsy. Built by Macchi, the Ca 100 Idro was a twin-float seaplane trainer, and there was also a bomber trainer with a 97-kW (130-hp) radial engine and provision for a quartet of light bombs. The type was built under licence in Bulgaria as the KN-1, and also in Peru.
Ca 100
two-seat primary trainer.
Engine: l x de Havilland Gipsy, 63kW (85hp).
Span: 10m (32ft l0in).
Length: 7.30m (23ft 1.25in).
Max T/O weight: 680 kg (1,499 lb).
Max speed: 102mph at sea level.
Operational range: 435 miles.
Ca 100
Engine: Cirrus, 90 hp
Wingspan: 32 ft 10 in
Length: 23 ft 10 in
Height: 8 ft 11 in
Empty weight: 882 lb
Loaded weight: 1587 lb
Max speed: 102 mph
Cruise: 87 mph
Ceiling: 14,763 ft
Range: 435 mi
