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 other two carried on strut-mounted nacelles at the fuselage sides. Examples were also produced with only the nose engine or only the two nacelle-mounted engines.

Ca.97
The single-engine version of the Caproni Ca.97.
Role Civil utility aircraft
Manufacturer Caproni
First flight 1927
Number built 13
The trimotor version of the Ca.97.

Operational history

Some aircraft were used by airlines in small numbers. Military versions were used by the Regia Aeronautica in colonial policing roles, particularly in Libya from November 1929.

Caproni Ca.97 with engines Walter Mars (1931)

Variants
Ca.97
Prototype 3-engined powered by 3x 75 kW (100 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich 5P 5-cylinder radial engines; one built.[1]
Ca.97 C.Tr.
(C.Tr. - coloniale trasporto - colonial transport), colonial transports similar to the Ca.97, powered by 3x 108 kW (145 hp) Walter Mars radial engines;two built.[1]
Ca.97 C.Mo
Powered by a single 370 kW (500 hp) Alfa Romeo Jupiter VIII Ri.[1]
Ca.97 M
Powered by a single 310 kW (420 hp) Alfa Romeo Jupiter IV.[1]
Ca.97 Co
Colonial reconnaissance-bomber, powered by a single 310 kW (420 hp) Alfa Romeo Jupiter IV; five aircraft built.[1]
Ca.97 Ri
Armed reconnaissance aircraft, powered by a single 370 kW (500 hp) Alfa Romeo Jupiter VIII Ri; four built for the Regia Aeronautica.[1]
Ca.97 Idro
Twin-float seaplane version, powered by a single 370 kW (500 hp) Alfa romeo Jupiter VIII Ri; one aircraft built.[1]

Operators

Civil
 Italy
 Hungary

Military
 Italy
 Hungary
  • Magyar Légierő (Hungarian Air Force)

Specifications (Ca.97 Ri)
Caproni Ca.97 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.84

Data from Aeroplani Caproni,[1] Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 4-5 crew
  • Length: 11.35 m (37 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 16 m (52 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 40 m2 (430 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,650 kg (3,638 lb)
  • Gross weight: 2,650 kg (5,842 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Alfa Romeo Jupiter VIII Ri 9-cyl air-cooled radial piston engine, 370 kW (500 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 230 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
  • Range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 5,750 m (18,860 ft)

Armament

  • Guns: 2x 7.7 mm (0.30 in) machine-guns in dorsal and ventral positions

Additional information
  1. Abate, Rosario; Alegi, Gregory; Apostolo, Giorgio (1992). Aeroplani Caproni (English translated ed.). Milano: Museo Caproni. pp. 139–143, 243.
  2. Grey, C.G., ed. (1928). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. pp. 18d–19d.

References
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 233.
  • World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 891 Sheet 09.
  • Winchester, general editor, Jim (2004). Biplanes, triplanes & seaplanes. San Diego, Cal.: Thunder Bay Press. ISBN 978-1592232239.
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