Caproni Ca.97

The Caproni Ca.97 was a 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.

Military versions were used by the Regia Aeronautica in colonial policing roles, particularly in Libya from November 1929.

Variants

Ca.97

Prototype 3-engined powered by 3x 75 kW (100 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich 5P 5-cylinder radial engines.

Ca.97 C.Tr.

Colonial transport similar to the Ca.97, powered by 3x 108 kW (145 hp) Walter Mars radial engines.

Ca.97 C.Mo

Powered by a single 370 kW (500 hp) Alfa Romeo Jupiter VIII Ri.

Ca.97 M

Powered by a single 310 kW (420 hp) Alfa Romeo Jupiter IV.

Ca.97 Co

Colonial reconnaissance-bomber, powered by a single 310 kW (420 hp) Alfa Romeo Jupiter IV.

Ca.97 Ri

Armed reconnaissance aircraft, powered by a single 370 kW (500 hp) Alfa Romeo Jupiter VIII Ri.

Ca.97 Idro

Twin-float seaplane version, powered by a single 370 kW (500 hp) Alfa Romeo Jupiter VIII Ri.

Specifications

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.