Caproni Ca.135bis.

ImportantSimone5 · August 7, 2024, 8:21pm

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Caproni Ca.135bis.

History.

The Caproni 135 was an airplane built by Caproni Aeronautica Bergamasca in 1934. The plane was built by engineer Cesare Pallavicino, who had left Breda only two years earlier. Prior to this plane, Caproni had focused on creating training biplanes, but had decided to expand its finances by producing other types of aircraft as well. The Caproni 135 was influenced by contemporary Anglo-American bombers (such as the Douglas B-18 and Vickers Wellington), although smaller in size to meet the Italian Ministry of Aeronautics’ request for a twin-engine medium bomber. On April 1, 1935, the prototype aircraft made its first flight, and the first examples of the aircraft were built and initially used only by the Regia Aeronautica Italiana. In early 1938 the Caproni 135 was upgraded with the adoption of Piaggio P.XI R.C.40 engines equipped with a Piaggio P.1001 three-blade propeller. There were other minor modifications to improve the plane’s performance, and in March of that year the plane was finally tested at Linate Airport. The Regia Aeronautica ordered 32 examples, and some were sold to foreign nations with some modifications. The Italian examples were used until they were scrapped shortly before the outbreak of World War II.

Armaments and propulsion.

The aircraft was armed with two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns and one 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun. The armament covered a good part of the plane. Furthermore, the plane’s war load of bombs was 1600 kg.
The plane was driven by two engines Piaggio P.XI R.C.40 of 1.000 hp of maximum power. The aircraft was able to reach a maximum speed of 428 km/h.

Specifications.

Spoiler

Crew: 4-5
Maximum weight: 9.500 kg
Wingspan: 18.8 m
Length: 13.7 m
Height: 3.4 m
Wing area: 60 m2
Engines: 2x Piaggio P.XI R.C.40 (1.000 hp)
Maximum speed: 428 km/h
Armament: 2x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT, 1x Breda-SAFAT 7.7 mm and up to 1,600 kg bombs.

Pictures and drawnings.

Spoiler