The Caproni Ca.61 was an Italian heavy day bomber aircraft of 1922.
It was the final development of the Caproni three engine, twin boom biplane types developed during World War I, but it was not put into production.
The Caproni Ca.61 and Ca.61a were the final evolution of the Caproni Ca.1 bomber of 1914.
The Ca.61 retained the twin boom biplane layout, the three engines in push-pull configuration and the approximate dimensions of the 1916 Ca.36, the main Ca.3 type production variant, but had more modern, streamlined structures and balanced rudders.
In May 1923 a contemporary report described it as the “Caproni type 1922-3”, suggesting the design work and construction started in 1922.
The completion date is unclear, not least because even as the original design, the Ca.61, was under construction the benefit of some modifications was recognised.
It is uncertain if the Ca.61 was completed or if the airframe was modified into the Ca.61a before the first flight.
The main differences between the Ca.61a and the Ca.61 included a smaller interplane gap, the addition of dihedral to the outer wings, aerodynamic alterations to the ailerons and structural simplifications to the inner wing bracing.
There were also modifications to the fuselage to improve the gunner’s position in the nose.
