Caproni Ca.311

Caproni · Italy · first flew 1939 · bomber

The Caproni Ca.311 was an Italian twin-engine medium bomber and reconnaissance aircraft of World War II, a development of the earlier Ca.310, featuring a twin-boom high-wing layout with a central glazed-nose gondola.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	11.74 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Italian twin-engine high-wing medium bomber
Twin tailbooms flanking central gondola
Glazed nose gondola for bombardier

The twin-boom high-wing layout with two radial engines, a large glazed nose gondola, and fixed undercarriage is the primary recognition feature. The family resemblance to the Ca.101 series is evident.

Specifications

The Caproni Ca.311 has a length of 11.74 m (39 ft).
It has a wingspan of 16.2 m (53 ft).
Its maximum speed is 307 km/h (191 mph).
Typical crew: 4.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The Ca.311 entered service with the Regia Aeronautica in 1940 and was used on several fronts including North Africa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. It was well-liked by crews for its handling but was underpowered and vulnerable to fighter attack by 1941–42 standards. It was progressively withdrawn from front-line bombing duties and used for training and liaison.

Variants

The Ca.311 was a development of the Ca.309/310 series; the Ca.313 and Ca.314 were further refined developments with more powerful engines.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the Regia Aeronautica 1940–1943 in North Africa, the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and the Eastern Front in small numbers; also exported to Yugoslavia and other customers.

Related aircraft

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