Caproni Ca.5
Caproni · Italy · first flew 1917 · bomber
The Caproni Ca.5 was an Italian heavy bomber of the First World War and the postwar era, the final version of the series that began with the Caproni Ca.1 in 1914.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three-engine biplane with a central crew nacelle
- Twin tail booms carrying a triple tail
- Rear gunner standing on the central engine in a protective cage
A three-engine biplane of wooden, fabric-covered construction, with a crew of four in an open central nacelle and a rear gunner standing on the central engine in a protective cage.
Specifications
- The Caproni Ca.5 has a length of 12.6 m (41 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23.4 m (77 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 160 km/h (99 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Caproni uprated the power of the existing Ca.3 design, with some versions carrying engines with nearly five times the total power of the first Ca.1. It also had modifications to the main nacelle and undercarriage and completely new wings. The first prototype flew in late 1917.
Variants
The Ca.44 was the main production version with three 149 kW (200 hp) Fiat A.12 engines, the Ca.45 had three Isotta Fraschini V.6s, and the Ca.46 had three 269 kW (360 hp) Liberty engines. The Ca.47 was a seaplane version, the Ca.50 an air ambulance and the Ca.57 an airliner conversion.
Where you'll see it
The type remained in production until 1921, with some 659 built by Caproni and three licence-built in the United States. Operators were the Italian Corpo Aeronautico Militare and the United States Navy.
Related aircraft
- Caproni Ca.43
- Caproni Ca.3
- Caproni Ca.36
- Caproni Ca.37
- Airco DH.9
- Albatros C.VIII
- Albatros J.I
- Albatros W.5
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