Caproni Ca.311

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 directly a modification of the Ca.310 bomber.

As with other related types, it was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional design.

This particular design incorporated the Ca.310’s retractable main undercarriage, as well as the heavily glazed nose that had been tested on the Ca.310bis prototype.

New features included a relocation of the dorsal turret to a position immediately aft of the cockpit, and additional glazing throughout the fuselage.

Variants

Ca.311 

Twin engine reconnaissance bomber aircraft.

Ca.311M 

Version with less glazing

Specifications

Crew

3

Length

11.74 m (38 ft 6 in)

Wingspan

16.20 m (53 ft 2 in)

Height

3.69 m (12 ft 1 in)

Wing area

38.4 m2 (413 sq ft)

Empty weight

3,460 kg (7,630 lb)

Gross weight

4,822 kg (10,630 lb)

Powerplant

2 × Piaggio Stella P.VII C.35 7 cylinder radial engines , 350 kW (470 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed

307 km/h (191 mph, 166 kn)

Range

1,600 km (1,000 mi, 870 nmi)

Service ceiling

7,400 m (24,300 ft)

Armament

1 × fixed, forward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Breda-SAFAT machine gun in port wing

1 × 7.7 mm (.303 in) Breda-SAFAT machine gun in dorsal turret

1 × flexible, rearward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Breda-SAFAT machine gun in ventral hatch

400 kg (880 lb) of bombs.