Caproni Campini N.1
Caproni · Italy · first flew 1940 · fighter
The Caproni Campini N.1 (CC.2) was Italy's first jet-propelled aircraft, first flown in 1940, using a thermojet or motorjet system in which a piston engine drove a compressor, with fuel burned in the efflux rather than using a true turbine. It attracted worldwide attention as an apparent demonstration of jet propulsion before Germany's He 178 was publicly known.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Smooth fuselage with nose intake and no conventional propeller |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Italy's first jet-propelled aircraft with motorjet propulsion
- Piston-engine-driven compressor feeding afterburner-style combustion chamber
- Smooth fuselage with nose intake and no conventional propeller
Resembles a conventional mid-wing monoplane but with a large nose intake and no propeller; the smooth fuselage houses the piston-engine compressor system, and the underwing profile is relatively broad for the period.
Specifications
- The Caproni Campini N.1 has a length of 13.1 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.85 m (52 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 375 km/h (233 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Secondo Campini and built by Caproni, the N.1 was initially hailed as a pioneering jet aircraft when it completed a publicised flight from Milan to Rome in 1941. However, the motorjet system was thermodynamically inefficient and slower than contemporary piston-engine fighters, and the design offered no practical military advantage. Two prototypes were built and tested before the project was abandoned.
Variants
Two prototype aircraft (MM 487 and MM 488) were built; no production followed.
Where you'll see it
Used solely for Italian military evaluation and propaganda; no operational service. The aircraft are historically significant as an early Italian contribution to jet aviation.
Related aircraft
- Caproni Ca.314
- Caproni Ca.311
- Caproni Ca.313
- Caproni Vizzola F.5
- Arado Ar 240
- Bell XFL-1 Airabonita
- Bloch MB.700
- CANSA FC.12
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