Caproni Ca.165
Caproni · Italy · first flew 1938 · fighter
The Caproni Ca.165 was an Italian biplane fighter developed just before the Second World War and built only as a prototype.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Italian single-seat biplane fighter with a narrow fuselage and an enclosed cockpit |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Italian single-seat biplane fighter with a narrow fuselage and an enclosed cockpit
- Retractable radiator that the pilot could deploy in climbs and close in level flight
- Fixed spatted undercarriage and an Isotta Fraschini V-12 driving a three-bladed propeller
Look for a slim biplane with a V-12 engine, spatted wheels and a retractable radiator under the fuselage.
Specifications
- The Caproni Ca.165 has a length of 8.1 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.3 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 450 km/h (280 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was proposed for a fighter contest and first flew in February 1938 with a 900 hp Isotta Fraschini L.121 R.C.40 V-12. The fuselage was steel-framed with a light-alloy skin, and the wings were wood with fabric covering.
Variants
Caproni tried a Piaggio radial and a more powerful Isotta Fraschini engine, and a redesigned sesquiplane version as the Ca.173, but none succeeded.
Where you'll see it
It beat the Fiat CR.42 in mock combats, but test pilots disliked it and its experimental engine was unreliable, so the CR.42 was chosen. An order for 12 was placed in September 1939 and cancelled the following month.
Related aircraft
- Caproni Ca.164
- Caproni Vizzola 2
- Caproni Ca.134
- Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli
- Avia B-135
- Avia B.35
- Blackburn Roc
- Bloch MB.152 C1
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