Caproni Ca.87

The Caproni Ca.87 was an Italian flying boat built in the 1920s for a planned transatlantic flight.

Ca.87
Role Long-range record aircraft / bomber
Manufacturer Caproni
First flight 15 June 1929
Number built 1

Development

In 1927, some Polish Americans conceived the idea of organizing a Polish flight across the Atlantic. Only two years later, Stanley Adamkevich from Chicago was able to organize this enterprise. He was supported by the pilot of the 3rd Aviation Regiment, Captain Adam Kovalchyk, and the former PLL LOT pilot, Vlodzimierz Clich.

Caproni personally handed them one Caproni Ca.73ter night bomber, on the basis of which they built the Ca.87 record attempt aircraft. First of all, the aircraft was altered for a possible landing on the water. Work was moving fast and in early May 1929 the aircraft was ready and flew for the first time on 15 June 1929. The Ca.87 was christened Polonia.

The Ca.87's flight was scheduled for 4 July 1929, on Independence Day. The Ca.87 was delivereded from the Italian Medionali airfield to the Baldonnell airfield in Ireland, waiting for a fair wind. The route was laid to the Canadian airport of Terranova, from there they intended to fly to Chicago. However, the new Isotta Fraschini engines worked intermittently and immediately after take-off they refused to continue their journey. The aircraft was returned to Caproni, where it was converted into a bomber.

Specifications

Data from Aeroplani Caproni,[1] Airwar:Caproni Ca.87[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 10 pax
  • Length: 15.1 m (49 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 25 m (82 ft 0 in)
  • Wing area: 143 m2 (1,540 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 4,500 kg (9,921 lb)
  • Gross weight: 10,000 kg (22,046 lb)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Isotta Fraschini V.6 six-cylinder, water-cooled, in-line piston engines, 190 kW (250 hp) each
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch tractor propellers on forward engines

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 146 km/h (91 mph, 79 kn)
  • Range: 5,000 km (3,100 mi, 2,700 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)

See also

Related lists

References
  1. Abate, Rosario; Alegi, Gregory; Apostollo, Giorgio (1992). Aeroplani Caproni: Gianni Caproni and his aircraft, 1910-1983. Trento: Associazione Museo dell'Aeronautica "G. Caproni. pp. 152, 244.
  2. "Caproni Ca.87". www.airwar.ru (in Russian). Moscow. Retrieved 20 January 2019.

Further reading
  • World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 891 Sheet 09.
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