Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian

aircraft manufacturer An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, or spacecraft. Aerospace is a high technology industry. ...

. Its main base of operations was at

Taliedo Taliedo is a peripheral district ("quartiere") of the city Milan, Italy, part of the Zone 4 administrative division, located south-east of the city centre. The informal boundaries of the district are three main city streets, respectively Via Mecen ...

, near

Linate Airport Milan Linate Airport is the third international airport of Milan, the second-largest city and largest urban area of Italy, behind Malpensa Airport and Orio al Serio Airport. It served 9,233,475 passengers in 2018, being the fifth busiest airp ...

, on the outskirts of

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

. Founded by Giovanni Battista "Gianni" Caproni during 1908, the company produced several successful

heavy bomber Heavy bombers are bomber aircraft capable of delivering the largest payload of air-to-ground weaponry (usually bombs) and longest range (takeoff to landing) of their era. Archetypal heavy bombers have therefore usually been among the larges ...

s during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. Following the acquisition of several other aviation firms throughout the

interwar period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the World War I, First World War to the beginning of the World War II, Second World War. The in ...

, Caproni transformed into a sizable aviation-orientated

syndicate A syndicate is a self-organizing group of individuals, companies, corporations or entities formed to transact some specific business, to pursue or promote a shared interest. Etymology The word ''syndicate'' comes from the French language, Frenc ...

, the ''Società Italiana Caproni, Milano''. The majority of its aircraft were bombers and transport aircraft. It played a pioneering role in the development of the

Caproni Campini N.1 The Caproni Campini N.1, also known as the C.C.2, is an experimental jet aircraft built in the 1930s by Italian aircraft manufacturer Caproni. The N.1 first flew in 1940 and was briefly regarded as the first successful jet-powered aircraft in hi ...

, an experimental aircraft powered by a thermo-jet. It provided large numbers of combat aircraft for the

Axis An axis (plural ''axes'') is an imaginary line around which an object rotates or is symmetrical. Axis may also refer to: Mathematics * Axis of rotation: see rotation around a fixed axis *Axis (mathematics), a designator for a Cartesian-coordinate ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The firm did not prosper in the

postwar In Western usage, the phrase post-war era (or postwar era) usually refers to the time since the end of World War II. More broadly, a post-war period (or postwar period) is the interval immediately following the end of a war. A post-war period c ...

era, the Società Italiana Caproni collapsing during 1950. Many of the company's former assets were subsequently acquired by the Italian helicopter specialist

Agusta Agusta was an Italian helicopter manufacturer. It was based in Samarate, Northern Italy. The company was founded by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923, who flew his first airplane in 1907. The MV Agusta motorcycle manufacturer began as an offshoot o ...

History

The company was founded during 1908 by the Italian

aviation pioneer Aviation pioneers are people directly and indirectly responsible for the advancement of flight, including people who worked to achieve manned flight before the invention of aircraft, as well as others who achieved significant "firsts" in aviation a ...

and

aeronautical engineer Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It has two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. Avionics engineering is si ...

Giovanni Battista "Gianni" Caproni. It was initially named, from 1911, ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'', then ''Società Caproni e Comitti''. Caproni was responsible for completing the first aircraft of Italian construction in 1911. Its principal manufacturing facilities were based in

, a peripheral district of

, close to

, while the firm's Caproni Vizzola division was based in

Vizzola Ticino Vizzola Ticino is a village and ''comune'' of the province of Varese in Lombardy, Italy. It is on the banks of the Ticino River, immediately to the west of Strada Provinciale 52 on the western perimeter of Malpensa Airport. In the late 19th cent ...

, close to

Milan–Malpensa Airport Milan Malpensa Airport is the largest international airport in northern Italy, serving Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria, as well as the Swiss Canton of Ticino. The airport is northwest of Milan, next to the Ticino river dividing Lombardy and ...

. The firm initially produced a series of small single-engine aircraft, including the Caproni Ca.1, Ca.6 and Ca.12; these became important milestones in the early development of Italian aviation. As such, Caproni became one of the most important

Allied An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...

aircraft manufacturers during the

, being responsible for the design and manufacture of large, multi-engine long-range

bomber A bomber is a military combat aircraft designed to attack ground and naval targets by dropping air-to-ground weaponry (such as bombs), launching aerial torpedo, torpedoes, or deploying air-launched cruise missiles. The first use of bombs dropped ...

s, such as the three-engined

Caproni Ca.32 The Caproni Ca.1 was an Italian heavy bomber of the World War I era. Development and design The Ca.1 was a three-engine biplane of fabric-covered wooden construction. It had four crew members in an open central nacelle: two pilots, a fron ...

, Ca.33, Ca.36 and Ca.40. These aircraft were adopted not only by the Italian military, but by the French as well. Caproni's bombers were a significant contribution in the development of heavy aircraft. Following the end of the conflict, the

strategic bombing Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in total war with the goal of defeating the enemy by destroying its morale, its economic ability to produce and transport materiel to the theatres of military operations, or both. It is a systematica ...

theories of

Giulio Douhet General Giulio Douhet (30 May 1869 – 15 February 1930) was an Italian general and air power theorist. He was a key proponent of strategic bombing in aerial warfare. He was a contemporary of the 1920s air warfare advocates Walther Wever, Billy ...

were reputedly shaped by the operational use of Caproni bombers, and thus have been was seen as an important landmark in the history of aviation. The

Interwar period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the World War I, First World War to the beginning of the World War II, Second World War. The in ...

was a busy one for Caproni. While the end of the First World War had led to a rapid decrease in demand for bombers, impacting orders for much of Caproni's traditional product line, Caproni elected to redirect the bulk of the company's resources towards the growing civil aviation market. It was also during this period that the company was reorganised into a large

, which was named the ''Società Italiana Caproni, Milano'', as a result of having acquired several smaller Italian manufacturers. By the 1930s, the company's main subdivisions comprised Caproni Bergamasca, Caproni Vizzola,

Reggiane Officine Meccaniche Reggiane SpA (commonly referred to as ''Reggiane'') was an Italian industrial manufacturer and aviation company. Reggiane was founded during 1904 by its parent company Caproni, which was in turn owned by the aeronautical eng ...

and the engine manufacturer

Isotta Fraschini Isotta Fraschini () was an Italian luxury car manufacturer, also producing trucks, as well as engines for marine and aviation use. Founded in Milan, Italy, in 1900 by Cesare Isotta and the brothers Vincenzo, Antonio, and Oreste Fraschini, in 19 ...

. Caproni's aircraft activity largely orientated towards the production of bombers and light transport aircraft. Perhaps the most distinctive of Caproni's aircraft was the Caproni Ca.60 Transaereo, an experimental large

flying boat A flying boat is a type of fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in that a flying boat's fuselage is purpose-designed for floatation and contains a hull, while floatplanes rely on fusela ...

designed for the civil sector. At the time, the concept of a large multi-engined flying boat to serve long-distance passenger routes was considered to be radical. However, Caproni believed that such an aircraft could allow the travel to remote areas more quickly than ground or water transport, and that the investment required to develop and manufacturer such an aircraft would be less expensive than pursuing alternative means. During 1919, Caproni filed to

patent A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention."A p ...

his work on the concept. His large seaplane design, designated Caproni Ca.60, was highly unorthodox, featuring eight engines and three sets of triple wings. On 12 February or 2 March 1921, the aircraft took off for the first time, proving to be both stable and maneuverable during its brief flight, in spite of a persisting tendency to climb. However, on March 4, the sole completed aircraft was lost while attempting its second flight. During 1927, the Caproni Museum (Italian: ''Museo Caproni'') was established in Taliedo by Giovanni Caproni and his wife, Timina Caproni. It is both the oldest aviation museum in Italy, as well as the country's oldest corporate museum. The Caproni Museum has long outlived the Caproni company itself. Caproni continued to maintain its interest in innovative aircraft. One such example was the

Stipa-Caproni The Stipa-Caproni, also known as the Caproni Stipa, was an experimental Italian aircraft designed in 1932 by Luigi Stipa (1900–1992) and built by Caproni. It featured a hollow, barrel-shaped fuselage with the engine and propeller completely e ...

, also known as the Caproni Stipa, which was designed by

Luigi Stipa Luigi Stipa (30 November 1900 – 9 January 1992) was an Italian aeronautical, hydraulic, and civil engineer and aircraft designer who invented the "intubed propeller" for aircraft, a concept that some aviation historians view as the predecesso ...

and built by Caproni during the early 1930s. The aircraft featured a hollow, barrel-shaped

fuselage The fuselage (; from the French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an engine as well, although in some amphibious aircraft t ...

with the

engine An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power gen ...

and

propeller A propeller (colloquially often called a screw if on a ship or an airscrew if on an aircraft) is a device with a rotating hub and radiating blades that are set at a pitch to form a helical spiral which, when rotated, exerts linear thrust upon ...

completely enclosed by the fuselage, effectively forming a single

ducted fan In aeronautics, a ducted fan is a thrust-generating mechanical fan or propeller mounted within a cylindrical duct or shroud. Other terms include ducted propeller or shrouded propeller. When used in vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) applicatio ...

. While unconventional, flight testing found that the approach induced significant

aerodynamic drag In fluid dynamics, drag (sometimes called air resistance, a type of friction, or fluid resistance, another type of friction or fluid friction) is a force acting opposite to the relative motion of any object moving with respect to a surrounding fl ...

, cancelling out much of the gains in engine efficiency and reducing the aircraft's top speed to only . Some authors have claimed that its design had influenced the development of

jet propulsion Jet propulsion is the propulsion of an object in one direction, produced by ejecting a jet of fluid in the opposite direction. By Newton's third law, the moving body is propelled in the opposite direction to the jet. Reaction engines operating o ...

During the 1930s, Caproni became involved with the Italian

aeronautics engineer Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It has two major and overlapping branches: Aeronautics, aeronautical engineering and Astronautics, astronautical engineering. A ...

Secondo Campini Secondo Campini (August 28, 1904 – February 7, 1980) was an Italian engineer and one of the pioneers of the jet engine. Campini was born at Bologna, Emilia-Romagna. In 1931 he wrote a proposal for the Italian Air Ministry on the value of jet pr ...

, who was engaged in pioneering research in the then-unexplored field of

, having proposed adopting a so-called '' thermo-jet'' to power an aircraft. Campini had been issued with an initial contract from the Italian government to develop and manufacture his envisioned engine. During 1934, the ''

Regia Aeronautica The Italian Royal Air Force (''Regia Aeronautica Italiana'') was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946. In 1946, the monarchy was abolis ...

'' (the Italian Air Force) granted its approval to proceed with the production of a pair of jet-powered

prototype A prototype is an early sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process. It is a term used in a variety of contexts, including semantics, design, electronics, and Software prototyping, software programming. A prototyp ...

aircraft; Caproni was engaged to manufacture this aircraft, which was thus designated as the

, with Campini providing technical guidance while specialising in the engine's design.Pavelec 2007, p. 5. On 27 August 1940, the

maiden flight The maiden flight, also known as first flight, of an aircraft is the first occasion on which it leaves the ground under its own power. The same term is also used for the first launch of rockets. The maiden flight of a new aircraft type is alwa ...

of the experimental N.1 occurred at Caproni's

facility. On 30 November 1941, the second prototype was flown from Milan's

to Rome's

Guidonia Airport Guidonia Air Base ( it, Aeroporto di Guidonia, ICAO: LIRG) is a military airport in Guidonia Montecelio, Province of Rome, near Rome. It is home to the Italian Air Force's main logistic center. History The airport was built between 1915 and 1 ...

, in a highly publicised event that included a fly-past over Rome and a reception with Italian Prime Minister

Benito Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (; 29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his deposition in 194 ...

. According to the historian Nathanial Edwards, the practicality of the N.1 design had been undermined by political pressure to speed the programme along so that Italy would be more likely to be the first country in the world to perform a jet-powered flight.Edwards, Nathanial. "Flight as Propaganda in Fascist Italy." ''World At War Magazine'', Late 2010. According to economics author Harrison Mark,

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

aircraft design bureau

TsAGI The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (also (Zhukovsky) Central Institute of Aerodynamics, russian: Центра́льный аэрогидродинами́ческий институ́т, ЦАГИ, Tsentral'nyy Aerogidrodinamicheskiy Institut, ...

obtained details on the N.1 programme and were encouraged to pursue work on a similar design; as such, there is a basis for stating that the design of the N.1 influenced subsequent early jet aircraft. The early years of the

era was one of considerable hardship for Caproni and the wider Italian aviation industry alike. During 1950, the Società Italiana Caproni ceased to exist. However, one of the company's former divisions, ''Caproni Vizzola'', endured until 1983, at which point it was acquired by the Italian helicopter manufacturer

Aircraft

FromAA.VV., Caproni Ca.90 , in ''Grande Enciclopedia Aeronautica'' , Milan, Edizioni Aeronautica L. Mancini, 1936, p. 154,

Pre-World War I

* Caproni Ca.1 of 1910 – Experimental biplane

World War I

* Caproni Ca.1 of 1914 – Heavy bomber *

Caproni Ca.2 __NOTOC__ The Caproni Ca.2 was an Italian heavy bomber of the World War I era. Development The Ca.2 was a minor development of the Caproni Ca.1 (1914), Caproni Ca.1 twin-boom bomber of 1914. It had become evident early in the Ca.1's service lif ...

– Heavy bomber *

Caproni Ca.3 The Caproni Ca.3 is an Italian heavy bomber of World War I and the postwar era. It was the most produced version of the series of aircraft that began with the 1914 Caproni Ca.1 and continued until the more powerful 1917 Caproni Ca.5 variant. ...

– Heavy bomber *

Caproni Ca.4 The Caproni Ca.4 was an Italian heavy bomber of the World War I era. Development After designing the successful Ca.3, Gianni Caproni of the Caproni works designed a much bigger aircraft. It shared the unusual layout of the Caproni Ca.3, being a ...

– Heavy bomber *

Caproni Ca.5 The Caproni Ca.5 was an Italian heavy bomber of World War I and the postwar era. It was the final version of the series of aircraft that began with the Caproni Ca.1 (1914), Caproni Ca.1 in 1914. Development By late World War I, developments in ...

– Heavy bomber *

Caproni Ca.14 The Caproni Ca.14 was an early biplane developed by Giovanni Battista Caproni Giovanni Battista Caproni, 1st Count of Taliedo (July 3, 1886 – October 27, 1957), known as "Gianni" Caproni, was an Italian aeronautical engineer, civil engineer, ...

- biplane *

Caproni Ca.15 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovanni ...

- monoplane *

Caproni Ca.17 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- monoplane *

Caproni Ca.18 __NOTOC__ 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 co ...

– Observation plane *

Caproni Ca.19 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovanni ...

- monoplane *

Caproni Ca.20 The Caproni Ca.20 was an early monoplane fighter. Developed by Giovanni Battista Caproni in 1914. The only prototype made is today on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, United States. History of the design The Ca.20 was der ...

– Monoplane fighter * Caproni Ca.21 - reconnaissance aircraft *

Caproni Ca.22 The Caproni Ca.22 was a single-engine monoplane made by the Italian company Aeronautica Caproni in 1913. Design Developed on the initiative of Giovanni Battista "Gianni" Caproni was made in a single sample for research purposes to study the cha ...

– Variable incidence research

parasol monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...

* Caproni Ca.26 - project *

Caproni Ca.27 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- project * Caproni Ca.28 - project * Caproni Ca.29 - project *

Caproni Ca.31 The Caproni Ca.1 was an Italian heavy bomber of the World War I era. Development and design The Ca.1 was a three-engine biplane of fabric-covered wooden construction. It had four crew members in an open central nacelle: two pilots, a fro ...

– Modified Ca.1 *

– Modified Italian Army version of Ca.1

Inter-war period

* Caproni Ca.30 – Postwar redesignation of 1914 Ca.1 *

Caproni Ca.33 The Caproni Ca.3 is an Italian heavy bomber of World War I and the postwar era. It was the most produced version of the series of aircraft that began with the 1914 Caproni Ca.1 and continued until the more powerful 1917 Caproni Ca.5 variant. ...

– Postwar redesignation of Ca.3 *

Caproni Ca.34 The Caproni Ca.3 is an Italian heavy bomber of World War I and the postwar era. It was the most produced version of the series of aircraft that began with the 1914 Caproni Ca.1 (1914), Caproni Ca.1 and continued until the more powerful 1917 Cap ...

– Postwar redesignation of proposed modified Ca.3 *

Caproni Ca.35 The Caproni Ca.3 is an Italian heavy bomber of World War I and the postwar era. It was the most produced version of the series of aircraft that began with the 1914 Caproni Ca.1 and continued until the more powerful 1917 Caproni Ca.5 variant. ...

– Postwar redesignation of proposed modified Ca.3 *

Caproni Ca.36 The Caproni Ca.3 is an Italian heavy bomber of World War I and the postwar era. It was the most produced version of the series of aircraft that began with the 1914 Caproni Ca.1 and continued until the more powerful 1917 Caproni Ca.5 variant. ...

– Postwar redesignation of modified Ca.3 * Caproni Ca.37 – Postwar redesignation of prototype ground-attack version of Ca.3 * Caproni Ca.39 – Postwar redesignation of proposed seaplane version of Ca.3 *

Caproni Ca.40 The Caproni Ca.4 was an Italian heavy bomber of the World War I era. Development After designing the successful Ca.3, Gianni Caproni of the Caproni works designed a much bigger aircraft. It shared the unusual layout of the Caproni Ca.3, being a ...

– Postwar redesignation of Ca.4 prototype *

Caproni Ca.41 The Caproni Ca.4 was an Italian heavy bomber of the World War I era. Development After designing the successful Ca.3, Gianni Caproni of the Caproni works designed a much bigger aircraft. It shared the unusual layout of the Caproni Ca.3, being a ...

– Postwar redesignation of Ca.4 variant *

Caproni Ca.42 The Caproni Ca.4 was an Italian heavy bomber of the World War I era. Development After designing the successful Caproni Ca.3, Ca.3, Gianni Caproni of the Caproni works designed a much bigger aircraft. It shared the unusual layout of the Caproni ...

– Postwar redesignation of Ca.4 variant *

Caproni Ca.43 The Caproni Ca.4 was an Italian heavy bomber of the World War I era. Development After designing the successful Ca.3, Gianni Caproni of the Caproni works designed a much bigger aircraft. It shared the unusual layout of the Caproni Ca.3, being a ...

– Postwar redesignation of floatplane variant of Ca.4 *

Caproni Ca.44 The Caproni Ca.5 was an Italian heavy bomber of World War I and the postwar era. It was the final version of the series of aircraft that began with the Caproni Ca.1 in 1914. Development By late World War I, developments in aircraft technology ...

– Postwar redesignation of Ca.5 heavy bomber *

Caproni Ca.45 The Caproni Ca.5 was an Italian heavy bomber of World War I and the postwar era. It was the final version of the series of aircraft that began with the Caproni Ca.1 (1914), Caproni Ca.1 in 1914. Development By late World War I, developments in ...

– Postwar redesignation of Ca.5 aircraft built for France * Caproni Ca.46 – Postwar redesignation of Ca.5 variant *

Caproni Ca.47 The Caproni Ca.5 was an Italian heavy bomber of World War I and the postwar era. It was the final version of the series of aircraft that began with the Caproni Ca.1 in 1914. Development By late World War I, developments in aircraft technology ...

– Postwar redesignation of seaplane version of Ca.5 *

Caproni Ca.48 The Caproni Ca.4 was an Italian heavy bomber of the World War I era. Development After designing the successful Caproni Ca.3, Ca.3, Gianni Caproni of the Caproni works designed a much bigger aircraft. It shared the unusual layout of the Caproni ...

– Airliner version of Ca.4 * Caproni Ca.49 – Proposed seaplane airliner of 1919 * Caproni Ca.50 – Air ambulance version of Ca.44 * Caproni Ca.51 – Postwar redesignation of prototype of enlarged Ca.4 *

Caproni Ca.52 The Caproni Ca.4 was an Italian heavy bomber of the World War I era. Development After designing the successful Ca.3, Gianni Caproni of the Caproni works designed a much bigger aircraft. It shared the unusual layout of the Caproni Ca.3, being a ...

– Postwar redesignation for Ca.4 aircraft built for

Royal Naval Air Service The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy, under the direction of the Admiralty's Air Department, and existed formally from 1 July 1914 to 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps t ...

* Caproni Ca.56 – Airliner version of Ca.1 * Caproni Ca.57 – Airliner version of Ca.44 * Caproni Ca.58 – Postwar redesignation for re-engined Ca.4s *

Caproni Ca.59 The Caproni Ca.4 was an Italian heavy bomber of the World War I era. Development After designing the successful Ca.3, Gianni Caproni of the Caproni works designed a much bigger aircraft. It shared the unusual layout of the Caproni Ca.3, being a ...

– Postwar redesignation for exported Ca.58s *

Caproni Ca.60 The Caproni Ca.60 Transaereo, often referred to as the Noviplano (nine-wing) or Capronissimo, was the prototype of a large nine-wing flying boat intended to become a 100-passenger transatlantic airliner. It featured eight engines and three sets ...

''Noviplano'' – Flying boat airliner prototype *

Caproni Ca.64 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, ...

- fighter project *

Caproni Ca.65 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- fighter project *

Caproni Ca.66 The Caproni Ca.66 was an Italian night bomber aircraft, bomber designed to reequip the post-World War I Italian Air Force. Only two examples of the four-engined biplane were built. Design and development From 1914 Caproni had produced a series ...

- Four-engine, single-

bomber of 1922 * Caproni Ca.68 - reconnaissance flying boat project * Caproni Ca.69 - reconnaissance flying boat project * Caproni Ca.70 – Prototype night fighter of 1925 *

Caproni Ca.71 The Caproni Ca.71, originally Ca.70L, was a two-seat biplane night fighter produced in Italy in 1927. It was derived from the Caproni Ca.70 of 1925. Design Undaunted by the lack of interest the ''Regia Aeronautica'' (Italian Royal Air Force) h ...

– Ca.70 variant of 1927 * Caproni Ca.73 – Airliner and light bomber * Caproni Ca.74 – Re-engined Ca.73 light bomber *

Caproni Ca.75 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- biplane bomber project *

Caproni Ca.76 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovanni ...

- biplane bomber project *

Caproni Ca.77 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- biplane bomber project *

Caproni Ca.78 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- biplane bomber project *

Caproni Ca.80 The Caproni Ca.73 was an Italian airliner produced during the 1920s which went on to serve as a light bomber in the newly independent ''Regia Aeronautica''. Design and development The Ca.73 was an inverted sesquiplane with a biplane tail and tw ...

– Later redesignation of Ca.74 *

Caproni Ca.81 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- reconnaissance monoplane project *

Caproni Ca.82 The Caproni Ca.73 was an Italian airliner produced during the 1920s which went on to serve as a light bomber in the newly independent ''Regia Aeronautica''. Design and development The Ca.73 was an inverted Biplane, sesquiplane with a biplane ta ...

– Redesignation of Ca.73''ter'' variant * Caproni Ca.83 - monoplane fighter *

Caproni Ca.84 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- biplane flying boat project * Caproni Ca.85 - biplane flying boat project *

Caproni Ca.86 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- biplane flying boat project * Caproni Ca.88 – Redesignation of Ca.73''quarter'' variant * Caproni Ca.89 – Redesignation of Ca.73''quarterG'' variant * Caproni Ca.90 – Heavy bomber aircraft *

Caproni Ca.92 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovan ...

- reconnaissance biplane project * Caproni Ca.93 - biplane bomber project * Caproni Ca.94 - 4-engine monoplane heavy bomber * Caproni Ca.95 - Heavy bomber aircraft, 1933 *

Caproni Ca.96 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- 4-engine biplane heavy bomber project *

Caproni Ca.97 The Caproni Ca.97 was a civil utility aircraft produced in Italy in the late 1920s and early 1930s. As originally designed, it was a high-wing braced trimotor monoplane of conventional configuration with one engine mounted on the nose and the oth ...

– Civil utility aircraft *

Caproni Ca.98 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- monoplane tourer * Caproni Ca.99 - biplane tourer *

Caproni Ca.100 The Caproni Ca.100 was the standard Trainer (aircraft), trainer aircraft of the ''Regia Aeronautica'' in the 1930s. Large numbers of this tandem, two-seat, biplane were built, powered by different engines. Design and development The Ca.100 (ni ...

– Trainer *

Caproni Ca.101 The Caproni Ca.101 was a three-engine Italian airliner which later saw military use as a transport and bomber. It was designed in 1927 and first flown in 1928. Design and development The Ca.101 was a derivative of the Caproni Ca.97, with an en ...

– Airliner, transport, and bomber *

Caproni Ca.102 The Caproni Ca.101 was a three-engine Italian airliner which later saw military use as a transport and bomber. It was designed in 1927 and first flown in 1928. Design and development The Ca.101 was a derivative of the Caproni Ca.97, with an enla ...

– Re-engined Ca.101 * Caproni Ca.106 - civil biplane project * Caproni Ca.107 - biplane fighter project * Caproni Ca.108 - mailplane project * Caproni Ca.109 - 2-seat biplane sport/trainer * Caproni Ca.110 - biplane fighter project *

Caproni Ca.111 The Caproni Ca.111 was a long-range reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber produced in Italy during the 1930s. It was a derivative of the Ca.101. Design and development A robust and simple aircraft, it was meant to be used in harsh conditions ...

– Reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber *

Caproni Ca.113 The Caproni Ca.113 was an advanced training biplane produced in Italy and Bulgaria in the early 1930s. Designed as a follow-on to the Ca.100, it was a more powerful and robust aircraft capable of aerobatics. It was a conventional design with two ...

– Advanced trainer *

Caproni Ca.114 The Caproni Ca.114 was a fighter biplane produced in Italy in the early 1930s which was flown operationally in Peru in the 1930s and 1940s. Design The Caproni company designed the Ca.114 in 1933 to compete against other designs to provide the ...

– Biplane fighter * Caproni Ca.115 - twin-engined sesquiplane bomber project * Caproni Ca.116 - sports biplane project * Caproni Ca.117 - experimental high-altitude monoplane project * Caproni Ca.118 - twin-engine monoplane bomber project * Caproni Ca.119 - reconnaissance biplane project * Caproni Ca.121 - fast monoplane bomber project * Caproni Ca.122 – Prototype bomber and transport * Caproni Ca.123 – Proposed airliner version of Ca.122 *

Caproni Ca.124 The Caproni Ca.124 was a 1930s single-engine Italian reconnaissance and bomber seaplane. Design The Caproni Ca.124 was a cantilever mid-wing monoplane of mixed construction. The fuselage was corrugated-skinned and the empennage cantilever and co ...

– Reconnaissance and bomber floatplane *

Caproni Ca.125 The Caproni Ca.125 was a single-engine, tandem two-seat, touring biplane built in Italy in 1933. It could be operated either as a landplane or seaplane. Design and development The Ca.125 was a wire braced single bay biplane with slender, ellip ...

– Two-seat touring biplane * Caproni Ca.126 - monoplane sports aircraft project * Caproni Ca.128 - low-wing metal monoplane 1+4 feederliner project * Caproni Ca.129 - low-wing metal monoplane 1+4 feederliner project *

Caproni Ca.130 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- trimotor transport, precursor of Caproni Ca.133 *

Caproni Ca.132 __NOTOC__ The Caproni Ca.132 was a prototype for a large aircraft built in Italy in 1934, intended for use as either a bomber or airliner. It was a conventional low-wing cantilever monoplane, powered by a radial engine The radial engine is ...

– Prototype bomber and airliner * Caproni Ca.134 – Reconnaissance biplane * Caproni Ca.150 - twin-boom attack fighter * Caproni Ca.153 - monoplane heavy fighter project * Caproni Ca.154 - twin-engine monoplane heavy fighter project * Caproni Ca.155 - twin-engine monoplane heavy fighter project * Caproni Ca.156 - twin-engined heavy fighter project * Caproni Ca.161 – High-altitude experimental aircraft * Caproni Ca.162 - recce-fighter project * Caproni Ca.163 – Prototype of Ca.164 *

Caproni Ca.165 The Caproni Ca.165 was an Italian biplane fighter developed just before World War II, but produced only as a prototype, as the competing Fiat CR.42 ''Falco'' was selected for series production. Design Although known for three-engine heavy b ...

– Prototype fighter of 1938 * Caproni Ca.204 - long-range bomber project *

Caproni Ca.211 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- three-engine long-range bomber project *

Caproni Ca.201 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- high altitude bomber project * Caproni Ca.205 - long-range bomber project * Caproni Ca.214 - aerobatic trainer project *

Caproni Ca.301 The Caproni Bergamaschi AP.1 was an Italian monoplane attack aircraft designed by Cesare Pallavicino, coming from the Breda firm. Design and development Developed from the Ca.301, a single-seat fighter version of a similar design that was not ...

– Prototype fighter *

Caproni A.P.1 The Caproni Bergamaschi AP.1 was an Italian monoplane attack aircraft designed by Cesare Pallavicino, coming from the Breda firm. Design and development Developed from the Ca.301, a single-seat fighter version of a similar design that was not ...

– Attack aircraft derivative of Ca.301 *

Caproni Ca.305 The Caproni Bergamaschi AP.1 was an Italian monoplane attack aircraft designed by Cesare Pallavicino, coming from the Breda firm. Design and development Developed from the Ca.301, a single-seat fighter version of a similar design that was not ...

– First production version of A.P.1 * Caproni Ca.306 – Airliner prototype (1935) *

Caproni Ca.307 The Caproni Bergamaschi AP.1 was an Italian monoplane attack aircraft designed by Cesare Pallavicino, coming from the Ansaldobreda, Breda firm. Design and development Developed from the Ca.301, a single-seat fighter version of a similar design ...

– Second production version of A.P.1 *

Caproni Ca.308 The Caproni Bergamaschi AP.1 was an Italian monoplane attack aircraft designed by Cesare Pallavicino, coming from the Breda firm. Design and development Developed from the Ca.301, a single-seat fighter version of a similar design that was not ...

– Export version of A.P.1 for El Salvador and Paraguay * Caproni Ca. 308 ''Borea'' – Airliner *

Caproni Ca.309 The Caproni Ca.309 ''Ghibli'' was an Italian aircraft used in World War II. Its nickname 'Ghibli' refers to a desert wind that later served as the inspiration for animation Studio Ghibli's name. Development The Caproni Ca.309 was designed by C ...

– military light twin *

Caproni Ca.345 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

– recce floatplane project * Caproni Ca.350 – Fighter-bomber, reconnaissance aircraft * Caproni-Reggiane Ca.400 – Caproni-

-built version of

Piaggio P.32 The Piaggio P.32 was an Italian medium bomber of the late 1930s, produced by Piaggio, and designed by Giovanni Pegna. It was a modern design for its time, but was a failure due to lack of powerplants commensurate with its high wing loading. Desig ...

medium bomber *

Caproni Ca.401 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

– twin-engine recce-fighter * Caproni Ca.405 – Caproni-built version of

medium bomber * Caproni Ca.410 – twin-engined recce-bomber floatplane project * Caproni CH.1 – Prototype fighter of 1935 * Caproni PS.1 – Sports aircraft * Caproni Bergamaschi PL.3 – Long-distance racer aircraft *

Caproni-Pensuti triplane The Caproni-Pensuti 2 was a small single-engine sports triplane aircraft designed and built in Italy just before the end of World War I. It had a wingspan of only 4.0 m or a little over 13 ft. Design and development The Pensuti 2 was a ...

– Sports triplane of 1919 *

Caproni Sauro-1 The Caproni Sauro-1 ( en, Sorrel), or Caproni Tricap, was a light, single-engine cantilever monoplane, seating two in tandem, built in Italy in the early 1930s for touring. Despite good performance and favourable test reports, only one was built ...

– Two-seat touring aircraft *

Caproni Vizzola F.5 The Caproni Vizzola F.5 was an Italian fighter aircraft that was built by Caproni. It was a single-seat, low-wing cantilever monoplane with retractable landing gear. Development The F.5 was developed in parallel with the Caproni Vizzola F.4, ...

– Fighter of 1939 *

– Experimental ducted-fan powered prototype of 1932

World War II

Caproni Ca.133 The Caproni Ca.133 was a three-engined transport/bomber aircraft used by the Italian '' Regia Aeronautica'' from the Second Italo-Abyssinian War until World War II. Originally developed as a civilian airliner and successor to the Ca.101, the ...

– Transport and bomber *

Caproni Ca.135 The Caproni Ca.135 was an Italian medium bomber designed in Bergamo in Italy by Cesare Pallavicino. It flew for the first time in 1935, and entered service with the Peruvian Air Force in 1937, and with the ''Regia Aeronautica'' (Italian Royal Air ...

– Medium bomber *

Caproni Ca.148 The Caproni Ca.133 was a three-engined transport/bomber aircraft used by the Italian ''Regia Aeronautica'' from the Second Italo-Abyssinian War until World War II. Originally developed as a civilian airliner and successor to the Ca.101, the Ca ...

– Civil-military transport version of Ca.133 *

Caproni Ca.164 The Caproni Ca.164 was a training biplane produced in Italy shortly prior to World War II. It was a largely conventional biplane intended as a follow-on to the Ca.100 and sharing that aircraft's layout with a slightly smaller upper wing. Develo ...

– Trainer and liaison and reconnaissance aircraft *

''Ghibli'' – Reconnaissance, ground-attack, and transport aircraft *

Caproni Ca.310 The Caproni Ca.310 ''Libeccio'' (Italian: southwest wind) was an Italian monoplane, twin-Radial engine, engine reconnaissance aircraft used in World War II. Derived from the similar Caproni Ca.309, Ca.309, it had its combat debut during the Span ...

''Libeccio'' – Reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber *

Caproni Ca.311 __NOTOC__ The Caproni Ca.311 was a light bomber- reconnaissance aircraft produced in Italy prior to and during World War II. It was a member of the large family of Caproni designs derived from the Ca.306 airliner prototype of 1935, and more d ...

– Light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft *

Caproni Ca.312 The Caproni Ca.313 was an Italian twin-engine reconnaissance bomber of the late-1930s. It was a development of the Ca.310. Its variants were exported to several other countries. Design and development The Ca.313 was designed by Cesare Pallavici ...

– Re-engined version of Ca.310 sold to Norway *

Caproni Ca.313 The Caproni Ca.313 was an Italian twin-engine reconnaissance bomber of the late-1930s. It was a development of the Ca.310. Its variants were exported to several other countries. Design and development The Ca.313 was designed by Cesare Pallavici ...

– Reconnaissance bomber, trainer, and transport *

Caproni Ca.314 The Caproni Ca.314 was an Italian Radial engine, twin-engine attack aircraft, attack/torpedo bomber aircraft, used in World War II. Derived from the similar Caproni Ca.310, Ca.310, the Ca.314 was used mainly for Ground attack aircraft, ground a ...

– Ground-attack aircraft and torpedo bomber * Caproni Ca.316 – Seaplane *

Caproni Ca.320 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- three-engine bomber *

Caproni Ca.325 The Caproni Ca.135 was an Italian medium bomber designed in Bergamo in Italy by Cesare Pallavicino. It flew for the first time in 1935, and entered service with the Peruvian Air Force in 1937, and with the ''Regia Aeronautica'' (Italian Royal Air ...

– Proposed version of Ca.135 medium bomber with more powerful engines, built in mock-up form only *

Caproni Ca.330 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovanni ...

- Project * Caproni Ca.331 – Prototype tactical reconnaissance aircraft/light bomber ( Ca.331 O.A./Ca.331A) of 1940 and prototype night fighter ( Ca.331 C.N./Ca.331B) of 1942 *

Caproni Ca.332 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- Project; derived from Ca.330 * Caproni Ca.335 – Fighter-bomber, reconnaissance aircraft for the Belgian Air Force. *

Caproni Ca.360 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- Twin engine dive bomber project *

Caproni Ca.365 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovanni ...

- Twin engine bomber project * Caproni Ca.370 - twin engine combat plane project *

Caproni Ca.375 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- twin engine combat plane project *

Caproni Ca.380 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- twin-boom fighter project *

Caproni Ca.381 Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

- twin-boom fighter project *

– Experimental motorjet-powered aircraft of 1940 *

Caproni Campini Ca.183bis The Caproni-Campini Ca.183bis was an Italian projected high-altitude fighter intended to have both piston and jet propulsion. Design and development The Ca.183bis was intended to have a Daimler-Benz DB 605 in the nose driving a six-bladed contr ...

– Proposed high-altitude fighter aircraft *

Caproni Vizzola F.4 The Caproni Vizzola F.4 was an Italian fighter aircraft prototype that was designed in 1937 and built from 1939. It was a single-seat, low-wing cantilever monoplane with retractable landing gear. Development The F.4 was developed in parallel wit ...

– Fighter prototype of 1940 with German-made engine * Caproni Vizzola F.5bis – Proposed version of F.4 with Italian-made engine * Caproni Vizzola F.6 – Fighter prototype of 1941 ( F.6M) and 1943 ( F.6Z)

Post-World War II

Caproni Ca.193 The Caproni Ca.193 was an Italian liaison and air-taxi aircraft that was offered to the Italian Air Force as an instrument flight trainer and to the Navy for liaison. Design work started in 1945 and only the prototype was built. It was the last ...

– Twin-engined six-seat monoplane * Caproni Ca.195 - jet trainer project *

Caproni Trento F-5 The Caproni Trento F.5 was a small Italian two-seat trainer designed by Stelio Frati and built by Aeroplani Caproni Trento. The F.5 was not ordered into production and only a prototype was built. Design and development By the 1950s the Capro ...

– Lightweight two-seat jet trainer *

Caproni Vizzola Calif __NOTOC__ The Caproni Vizzola Calif was a family of Italian sailplanes , the first example flew in 1969, with production continuing into the 1970s and 1980s. Of typical sailplane configuration with T-tails, they featured distinctive wings with c ...

– Family of gliders (sailplanes) (A-10, A-12, A-14, A-15, A-20, A-21) * Caproni Vizzola C22 Ventura – Light jet trainer

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * Golly, John. ''Jet: Frank Whittle and the Invention of the Jet Engine.'' Datum Publishing, 1996. . * * Mark, Harrison. ''The Economics Of Coercion And Conflict.'' World Scientific, 2014. . * * Pavelec, Sterling Michael. ''The jet race and the Second World War.'' Praeger Security International: Westport, Connecticut. 2007. .

External links

{{Authority control Defunct aircraft manufacturers of Italy Manufacturing companies based in Milan Companies based in Reggio Emilia Conglomerate companies of Italy Companies based in Lombardy Companies based in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1908 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1950 Italian companies established in 1908 1950 disestablishments in Italy Agusta Italian brands

History

Aircraft

Pre-World War I

World War I

Inter-war period

World War II

Post-World War II

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

External links