Caproni Ca.3
Caproni · Italy · first flew 1916 · bomber
The Caproni Ca.3 was an Italian World War I heavy bomber with a distinctive twin-boom biplane layout and three engines, two tractors on the booms and one pusher in the central crew nacelle. It was the most produced version of the Ca.1 to Ca.5 series.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.9 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- World War I Italian biplane heavy bomber
- Three engines in pusher-tractor configuration
- Twin tail booms with biplane tail surfaces
Unmistakable for its three-engine twin-boom biplane configuration, with two crew nacelles in the nose and a central pusher engine between the tail booms.
Specifications
- The Caproni Ca.3 has a length of 10.9 m (36 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 22.2 m (73 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 137 km/h (85 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Ca.3 series was Italy's primary strategic bomber of World War I, conducting raids on Austrian targets from 1916 to 1918. It was also used by France and the United States. Hundreds were produced and the type established Caproni's reputation for large bombing aircraft.
Variants
The Ca.3 was the main production version of the Ca.1/Ca.2/Ca.3 series; the Ca.4 was a triplane heavy bomber development with even greater capacity.
Where you'll see it
The Ca.3 served with the Italian Corpo Aeronautico Militare, the French Armée de l'Air, and the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.