Caproni Ca.310 (Libeccio)

1938 COLD WAR WORLD WAR 2

• 1 Caproni ca. 310 (Libeccio) History
• 2 Caproni Approx. 310 (Libeccio) Specification
  • 2.1 Basic
  • 2.2 Production
  • 2.3 Roles
  • 2.4 Dimensions
  • 2.5 Weight
  • 2.6 Performance
  • 2.7 Performance
  • 2.8 Armor
  • 2.9 Changes

Caproni ca. 310 (Libeccio) History

The Italian company Caproni was founded in 1908 and provided several notable designs for the Italian Air Force during the First World War (1914-1918). During World War II (1939-1945), the company continued to contribute to the Italian aviation industry with a range of aviation products, including passenger aircraft.

Engineer Cesare Pallavicino designed a new aircraft called the "Ca. 310", the prototype of which first flew in April 1937. The design is very traditional, featuring a sleek, aerodynamically friendly fuselage shape with twin radial engines mounted on the leading edge of the wing (low-set wing), retractable "trail" landing gear and traditional single fins Stabilizer. This model was adopted by the Italian Air Force - Regia Aeronautica - and introduced in 1938 for service on the Nationalist side during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). In what is essentially an evaluation period, approximately 16 aircraft are in service on this route.

Despite its promising design, the aircraft was never fully satisfied on a military level.

ca. 310 was named "Libeccio", which means "southwesterly wind".

Base C. 310 uses a crew of three and is 40 feet long, 53 feet wingspan, and 11.5 feet high. The airframe has an empty weight of 6,700 pounds and a fully loaded weight of 10,250 pounds. Power is provided by 2 Piaggio Stella P.VII C. 16/35 series radial piston engines with 470 hp each.

This allows for a top speed of 227 mph, a cruising speed of about 180 mph, a range of 1,050 miles, and a service ceiling of 23,000 feet. The Ca. 310 was capable of carrying a 1,000-pound bomb load and was defended by three machine guns.

1 x 7.7mm Breda SAFAT medium machine gun is mounted on the dorsal turret, while the remaining 2 x 7.7mm Breda SAFAT machine guns, one in each wing root, are mounted on fixed forward firing brackets along the leading edge. The overall structure of the aircraft consists of a tubular steel frame with a light metal skin and fabric covering non-critical surfaces.

The tail uses wood and is covered with plywood and fabric.

Throughout its career, the Circa 310 has been plagued by performance issues. In fact, the Norwegian order was suspended until a better engine type was installed, and the rest of the order became incomplete as WWII began. More than 30 cars bought by Hungary in 1938 were returned to Caproni two years later for poor performance.

For aircraft operating under the Royal Aviation flag during and throughout World War II, the Ca. 310 was used only for reconnaissance and bombing missions. Its properties make it unusable in competitive airspace, and its rifle-caliber cannon is relatively useless in attack or defense. Furthermore, the limited bomb-carrying capacity allowed only light bombing to be considered - all of which went hand in hand with the commitment of a crew of three and the resources of a twin-engine aircraft.

During the North African campaign, the Italian army used some 310 aircraft, although they never proved to be sufficient combat aircraft and were eventually relegated to non-confrontational missions as much as possible.

The Ca. 310 is used to denote the base model twin-engine reconnaissance/light bomber, while the Ca. 310 "Idro" is a specially modified twin-float arrangement seaplane. ca. 310bis is the only other notable shape of Cz. 310 line, which basically formed the prototype of the ca. 311.

This version is known for its all-glass contoured nose section (non-stepped cockpit). A total of 312 Circa 310s were produced.

In addition to Regia Aeronautica, Norway and Hungary, Croatia, Peru, Spain and Yugoslavia also use ca. 310 to varying degrees. The plane served as a soldier until it was finally scrapped in 1948.

Caproni Approx. 310 (Libeccio) Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes