Caproni Ca.60

The Caproni Ca.60 Noviplano was a nine-wing flying boat intended to be a prototype for a 100-passenger trans-atlantic airliner. It featured eight engines and three sets of triple wings. Two pontoons, mounted on each side, were intended to give the aircraft stability. Only one example of this aircraft was built by Caproni. The prototype only made one short flight on 4 March 1921 over Lake Maggiore in Italy. The aircraft attained an altitude of only 18 m (60 ft) and crashed shortly thereafter, breaking up on impact. The pilot escaped unscathed. The wrecked airplane was recovered, but burned in a fire.

Specifications (Ca.60)

Data from World Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 8
• Capacity: 100 passengers
• Length: 23.45 m (77 ft)
• Wingspan: 30.0 m (98 ft 5 in)
• Height: 9.15 m (30 ft)
• Loaded weight: 26,000 kg (55,100 lb)
• Powerplant: 8 × Liberty L-12 liquid-cooled V12 engines, 298 kW (400 hp) each

Performance

• Cruise speed: 130 km/h (70 kn, 80 mph)
• Range: 660 km (360 nmi, 410 mi)
• Power/mass: 11 W/kg (0.0070 hp/lb)

Video

A Mammoth of the Air, a 1921 silent film of the Ca.60, can be seen at You Tube: Caproni Ca.60 Noviplano flying boat (static display)

See also

• List of experimental aircraft
• List of seaplanes and flying boats

References

External links

• Contemporary documentary about Ca.60 (static display)