| Caproni Ca.22, Ca.23, and Ca.24 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | experimental aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Caproni |
| Designer | Giovanni Battista Caproni |
| First flight | 1913 |
| Number built | 3 |
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 characteristics of an aircraft equipped with an angle wing of variable incidence. In fact, the wing was in three pieces and was anteriorly hinged on the front side member which served as a rotation axis for the same; the variation of incidence of the wing was commanded by a handwheel that commanded a helical tube that acted on the rear pylon. Moreover, with a system of tie-rods, the rear planes of the tail were controlled so as to compensate for the variations in pressure exerted on the wing, maintaining the longitudinal equilibrium of the optimal aircraft.
The Ca.22 in 1913 obtained various world records of height and ascent.[1]
Operational history
On 30 June 1915 the pilots of the 15th Reconnaissance and Combat Squadron withdraw the Caproni 2 Parasol 100 hp to Vizzola Ticino, taking them to the flight field of Pordenone but after the accidents on the new aircraft, one of which causes the death of a pilot for the breaking of a wing, the squadron was dissolved on 15 September 1915.[2]
Variants
- Ca.22
- Single-engine monoplane with variable-incidence mainplanes, powered by an80 hp (60 kW) Gnome Lambda rotary engine
- Ca.23
- Fixed incidence wing, 100 hp (75 kW) Fiat engine.
- Ca.24
- Fixed incidence wing, 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome 9 Delta engine, produced in series.
Specifications (Ca.22)
Data from [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 2 passengers
- Length: 8 m (26 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 14.14 m (46 ft 5 in)
- Height: 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 29.18 m2 (314.1 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 480 kg (1,058 lb)
- Gross weight: 980 kg (2,161 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Lambda 9-cylinder air-cooled rotary piston engines, 60 kW (80 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 125 km/h (78 mph, 67 kn)
- Cruise speed: 60 km/h (37 mph, 32 kn)
- Endurance: 5 hours
- Service ceiling: 5,200 m (17,100 ft)
- Rate of climb: 1.66 m/s (327 ft/min)
References
- ↑ Gianni Caproni, Caproni Airplanes – studies, projects, projects from 1908 to 1935 (Ed. Del Caproni Museum), Milan, Art publisher Emilio Bestetti, 1937, ISBN not existing.
- ↑ The Departments of Italian Aviation in the Great War, AM Historical Office – Roberto Gentili and Paolo Varriale, 1999 pag. 69
- ↑ Camurati, Gastone (1974). Aerei Italiani 1914-1918. Roma: Aeronautica Militare.
Further reading
- Abate, Rosario; Alegi, Gregory; Apostolo, Giorgio (1992). Aeroplani Caproni – Gianni Caproni ideatore e costruttore di ali italiane (in Italian) (Italian (also available in English) ed.). Museo Caproni. p. 241.