Caproni A.P.1

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A.P.1
Type	Attack aircraft
Manufacturer	Caproni
Designed by	Cesare Pallavicino
Maiden flight	April 1934
Introduced	1936
Primary user	Regia Aeronautica

Caproni A.P.1^[1] was an Italian attack aircraft monoplane designed by Cesare Pallavicino, coming from the Breda firm.

[edit] Design and development

Developed from the Ca.301, a single-seat fighter version of a similar design that was not put into production, the A.P.1 was a two seater version, fitted with a more powerful Alfa Romeo radial. Designed to serve both as a fighter and an attack aircraft, it was a low-wing monoplane with a fixed, trousered (spatted) undercarriage, of mixed construction. Although it was a monoplane at a time when many of the air forces of the world were flying biplanes, the Caproni was still an anachronism with fixed landing gear.

The A.P.1 prototype first flew on 27 April 1934. An initial series of 12 aircraft was delivered within 1936. In the same year, the Regia Aeronautica ordered a second series with improvements including a more powerful Alfa Romeo engine and more aerodynamic landing gear. In service, the large landing gear spats were often removed for ease of maintenance.

[edit] Operational history

The Caproni A.P.1 equipped a total of eight squadriglie (Italian air unit equivalent to half an RAF squadron) of the assault wings of the Regia Aeronautica. It took part in the Spanish Civil War, but its unsatisfactory performance led to its quick replacement with the also disappointing Breda Ba.64, Ba.65 and Ba.88 types.

Four examples were acquired by El Salvador for use in the Escuadrilla de Caza (a fifth aircraft was shipped to replace an aircraft which crashed during a ferrying flight), and another seven floatplane variants were sold to Paraguay and used at the end of the Gran Chaco War in Bolivia. Another ten aircraft ordered by Paraguay were diverted to the Regia Aeronautica.

[edit] Variants

• Ca.301 - Two prototypes.
• Ca.305 - AP.1bis - Initial production version.
• Ca.307 - Second production version.
• AP.1 Idro - Seven floatplane aircraft sold to Paraguay.

[edit] Operators

•  Italy : Regia Aeronautica
  • 7° Gruppo (5° Stormo Assalto)
    • 86° Squadriglia
    • 98° Squadriglia
  • 19° Gruppo (5° Stormo Assalto)
    • 100° Squadriglia
    • 102° Squadriglia
  • 12° Gruppo (50° Stormo Assalto)
    • 160° Squadriglia
    • 165° Squadriglia
  • 16° Gruppo (50° Stormo Assalto)
    • 168° Squadriglia
    • 169° Squadriglia

•  Paraguay : Paraguay Air Force
  • 2 Escuadrilla de Caza

•  El Salvador : El Salvador Air Force

[edit] Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 9.34 m (30 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 13.01 m (42 ft 8 in)
• Height: 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
• Empty weight: 1,940 kg (4,277 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34, 582 kW (780 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 347 km/h (216 mph)
• Range: 1,500 km (935 miles)
• Service ceiling: 6,500 m (21,320 ft)

Armament

• 2 × 7.7 mm Breda SAFAT machine guns
• 1 × 12.7 mm machine gun
• 500 kg (1,100 lb) of bombs

[edit] References

• Taylor, Michael J.H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 1989.

[edit] External links

• Caproni-Bergamasca Ca.301
• Caproni

[edit] See also

Comparable aircraft

• Breda Ba.64
• Henschel Hs 123
• Junkers Ju 87
  

v • d • e Lists relating to aviation General Timeline of aviation · Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airports · Airlines Military Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft Accidents/incidents General · Military · Commercial (airliners) · Deaths Records Airspeed · Distance · Altitude · Endurance · Most-produced aircraft