Caproni Ca.18

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ca.18
Type Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer Caproni
Designed by Gianni Caponi
Maiden flight 1913
Introduced 1915

The Caproni Ca.18 was a military reconnaissance aircraft built in Italy shortly prior to World War I. It became the first Italian-designed and -built aircraft to see service with the Italian armed forces. The Ca.18 was a monoplane of conventional configuration and fixed tailskid undercarriage. The wings were mounted to the fuselage with a bayonet fitting, to facilitate the rapid erection and dismantling of the aircraft.

Originally designed for a government competition in early 1913, no production order for the aircraft was forthcoming until the nationalisation of the Caproni company later in the year, whereupon a small batch was built for the 15th Squadron.



[edit] Specifications

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two, pilot and observer
  • Length: 7.67 m (25 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.92 m (35 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 22 m² (237 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 400 kg (880 lb)
  • Gross weight: 600 kg (1,320 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Gnome rotary, 60 kW (80 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 120 km/h (75 mph)
  • Endurance: 5 hours

[edit] References

  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 231. 
  • Jane, Fred T.. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1913. London: Sampson Low Marston, 174. 


[edit] See also

Languages