Caproni Vizzola F.5

History

In the pre-World War II period, F. Fabrizi of Italy led a design team that built several lesser-known fighter prototypes for the Kingdom of Italy. This work made the "F.4" a state-of-the-art monoplane with closed cockpit seats, fully retractable landing gear and two machine guns.

The powerplant decision led to the model being passed in favor of another fighter jet developed at the same time - the "F.5".

While the F. 4 is intended for the Isotta-Fraschini inline liquid-cooled inline engine, the F. 5 will feature a twin-row, air-cooled, 14-cylinder, radial-piston Fiat A. 74 R. C. 38 engine with 870 hp. This was used to drive the three-bladed propeller unit on the nose.

Both aircraft use the same low-wing layout and are both designed to carry 2 x 12.7mm Breda SAFAT machine guns as their primary armament. The introduction of the German Daimler-Benz DB601 inline engine in Italy in the summer of 1939 changed the F.4's fortunes to some extent, but the model, intended to be used as a prototype for the "F.5bis", had little to no gain before it was finally abandoned.

Achieve any achievement in 1942.

The F. 5 itself was flown as a prototype on 19 February 1939, fitted with a Fiat engine. It was presented to the Italian authorities, who sold enough models to order a second airworthy prototype for further evaluation, followed by a contract for twelve pre-series airframes (subsequent events led to the final pre-series F5 airframe) ). Used to convert the aforementioned F. 4/F.

5bis to be developed, as the program was revived with the arrival of the German inline engine).

11 pre-series F.5s were delivered to 300 Squadriglia and formed as part of 167 Gruppo Night Operations Task Force until 1942. Other than that, there doesn't seem to be much more to the F.5. Like the F. 4, the F. 5 likely ended in 1942.

The F.5 "Gamma" is a two-seater trainer planned for the series. It was instead powered by an Isotta-Fraschini "Gamma" RC 35 IS air-cooled radial piston engine. A 7.7mm Breda SAFAT machine gun will be used as its armament for shooting training. The project barely came to fruition.

In flight, the F.5 reaches a top speed of 317 mph and has a range of up to 480 miles. Service is capped at 31,200 feet.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes