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Description: The Caproni Ca165 was an Italian single-engine fighter made in the thirties. The Ca165 was the response of the Italian industry caprony to the competition started by the Regia Aereonautica in 1936 to replace the CR20 and CR32 fighters. The Ca165 flew for the first time in 1938, and it was soon confronted with the CR42, its main competitor. During the various tests, the Ca165 was able to outperform the CR42, though its engine was less reliable. One of the main advantages in favor of the Ca165 was its speed, a total of 465 km/h, 34 km/h faster than the CR42. In the armament department, they were rated identical since both were armed with two 12.7 mm breda Safat machienguns. Another sector where the Ca165 lacked was the relatively small range of approximately 672 km compared to the 775 km of the CR42. The reason that probably made this fighter lose the competition was that it was less maneuverable compared to the CR42, and the Italian pilots that tested the Caproni didn’t like this much. But even if the Ca165 outperformed the CR42 at the start of the competition, the CR42 was ultimately chosen by the Regia Aereonautica. After the end of the competition, the Ca165 was forgotten, and the only prototype was abandoned. Its fate is unknown.
Why it should be in game: It could offer to the Italian low ranks a good fighter at a br around 1.3-1.7.
Specifications
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Crew: 1
Length: 8.1 m (26 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 9.3 m (30 ft 6 in)
Height: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 21.4 m2 (230 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,855 kg (4,090 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 2,435 kg (5,368 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Isotta Fraschini L.121 R.C.40
Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller
Maximum speed: 450 km/h (280 mph, 240 kn) at 4,999 m (16,400 ft)
Cruise speed: 378 km/h (235 mph, 204 kn)
Stall speed:*114 km/h (71 mph, 62 kn)
Landing speed: 110 km/h (68 mph; 59 kn)
Range: 672 km (418 mi, 363 nmi)
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
Wing loading: 113 kg/m2 (23 lb/sq ft)
Armaments
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2x 12.7 mm Breda Safat Machineguns
Sources
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Caproni Ca.165 - Wikipedia
Caproni Ca.165 : Caproni / Caproni Bergamaschi / Caproni Vizzola
Caproni Ca.165: The loser took it all. | Aviation Rapture
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