Caproni Ca.37

During 1916 Caproni embarked on the design of a small light ground attack aircraft which followed the design philosophy of its much larger cousins the Ca.3 and Ca.4.[1]

3/4 rear view of the Ca.37

The Ca.37 followed the twin boom layout with central nacelle, which housed the tandem cockpits and the 190 kW (250 hp) Lancia Tipo 4 6-cylinder in-line piston engine, driving a 2-bladed pusher propeller. The tail-plane spanned across the two tail-booms and mounted two all-flying rudders for yaw control. Twin main-wheel units were strut mounted under each boom which also carried wooden tail-skids.[1]

The front cockpit was to house a gunner with a flexibly mounted machine-gun. Small bombs were also to be carried for trench attacks and anti-personnel attacks.[1]

Limited further development, in the form of streamlined pod and booms, was carried out as the Ca.38, but no production resulted.[1]

Ca.37

The sole Ca.37 prototype.

Ca.38

A new-build aircraft, or conversion of the sole Ca.37, with streamlined pod and booms for improved performance, but still no production orders.

Data from Aeroplani Caproni[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 11.2 m (36 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 65 m² (700 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,300 kg (2,866 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,800 kg (3,968 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lancia Tipo 4 6-cylinder in-line water-cooled piston engine, 190 kW (250 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch wooden pusher propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 165 km/h (103 mph, 89 kn) Ca.37 (170 km/h (110 mph; 92 kn) Ca.38)

Armament

• Guns: 1x flexibly mounted machine gun in the nose cockpit plus unspecified other armament