Caproni CH.1

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The Caproni CH.1 was a single-seat biplane fighter, a single example of which was produced as a prototype in Italy in 1935.

Design

Antonio Chiodi began design work on a new single-seat fighter in 1934 as a private venture of the Caproni company. He designed the Caproni CH.1—"CH" standing for "Chiodi"—an aerodynamically clean single-bay biplane of all-metal construction with fabric skin and wings of equal span. The aircraft had spatted landing gear. The cockpit was enclosed, with a canopy that opened by sliding to the rear.[1]

Chiodi intended the CH.1 to be powered by a Gnome-Rhône 14Kfs Mistral Major 14-cylinder radial engine rated at 581 kilowatts at 4,750 meters (780 horsepower at 15,585 feet), but instead the aircraft was constructed with a Piaggio P.IX R.C.40 9-cylinder radial rated at 417 kilowatts at 4,750 meters (560 horsepower at 13,125 feet). The engine drove a three-bladed, variable-pitch propeller.[1]

The CH.1's proposed armament was two fixed forward-firing 7.7-millimeter (0.303-inch) Breda-SAFAT machine guns synchronized to fire through the propeller.[1]

Operational history

Chiodi himself piloted the CH.1 on its first flight, which took place in May 1935. After the Caproni company finished its tests, the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force), tested the CH.1 at Guidonia Montecelio in July and August 1935. Although powered by an engine of lower power than its designer intended, the CH.1 had an exceptional rate of climb.[1]

Tests ended when the CH.1 flipped over onto its back during a landing and was damaged in August 1935. The Regia Aeronautica did not place a production order, and no further examples were built.[1]

Specifications (CH.1)

Data from [2]p. 108.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 7.19 m (23 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in)
  • Height: 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 19.00 m2 (204.5 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,400 kg (3,086 lb)
  • Gross weight: 2,000 kg (4,409 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Piaggio P.IX R.C.40 9-cylinder radial, 417 kW (559 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch
  • Note: Engine power rating is at 4,000 m (13,125 ft)

Performance

  • Range: 1,000 km (621 mi; 540 nmi)
  • Maximum speed: 327 km/h (203 mph) at sea level; 377 km/h at 5,000m (234 mph at 16,405 ft)
  • Climb: 7.26 minutes to 4,000 m (13,125 ft)
Armament

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Green and Swanborough, p. 108.
  2. ↑ Green, William; Gordon Swanborough (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Aircraft Built and Flown. New York: SMITHMARK Publishers. p. 108. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8. 

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caproni CH.1.
  • Green, William; Gordon Swanborough (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Aircraft Built and Flown. New York: SMITHMARK Publishers. p. 108. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8. 


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