Caproni Ca.90

The Caproni Ca.90 was a prototype Italian heavy bomber designed and built by Caproni. When it first flew in 1929, it was the largest land-based aircraft in the world.[1]

Caproni Ca 90
Role Heavy bomber
National origin Italy
Manufacturer Caproni
First flight 1929
Number built 1

Design and development

A six-engined inverted sesquiplane, the Caproni Ca.90 was designed as a heavy bomber and first flew in 1929.[1] It had two tandem pairs of 1,000 hp (746 kW) Isotta Fraschini Asso 1000 W-18 piston engines mounted above the lower wing, each pair driving a four-bladed pusher and a two-bladed tractor propeller.[1] Another pair of engines was mounted above the fuselage.[1] Only one Ca.90 was built.[1]

Although the Dornier Do X flying boat that flew later in 1929 had a larger wingspan and weight, the Caproni Ca.90 remained the largest landplane until the arrival of the Tupolev ANT-20 in 1934.[1]

Specifications

Data from [1]Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft

General characteristics

  • Length: 26.95 m (88 ft 5 in)
  • Upper wingspan: 34.90 m (114 ft 6 in)
  • Lower wingspan: 46.60 m (152 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 10.80 m (35 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 496.60 m2 (5,345.4 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 15,000 kg (33,069 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 30,000 kg (66,139 lb)
  • Powerplant: 6 × Isotta Fraschini Asso 1000 water-cooled W-18 piston engines, 750 kW (1,000 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 205 km/h (127 mph, 111 kn)
  • Range: 1,290 km (800 mi, 700 nmi)
  • Endurance: 7 hours
  • Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,700 ft)

Armament

  • Guns: 12 defensive machine-guns
  • Bombs: 8,000 kg (18,000 lb)

Appearances in media

The Ca.90 appeared in animated form, within the Studio Ghibli film, Kaze Tachinu. It makes its appearance in a dream sequence where Jiro Horikoshi has a meaningful meeting and conversation with his inspiration, Count Caproni.

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caproni Ca.90.
Notes
  1. Orbis 1985, p. 1054.
Bibliography
  • Angelucci, Enzo. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. San Diego, California: The Military Press, 1983. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
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