Caproni Bergamaschi PL.3
| Industry | Aviation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1930s |
| Headquarters | Italy |
The Caproni Bergamaschi PL.3 was developed and constructed in Italy with the intention of participating in the 1934 London-to-Melbourne air race. This aircraft featured a single-engine, cantilever monoplane design characterized by smooth aerodynamics, retractable landing gear, and a cockpit accommodating two occupants seated side-by-side.[1] Although it was officially entered for the competition, delays in its completion prevented it from taking part.
Design and development
The PL.3 was designed as a low-wing aircraft, entirely constructed from wood and sheathed in plywood. The wing exhibited a gradual taper in both chord and thickness, transitioning from broad, deep roots to smoothly rounded tips. Its tail assembly followed a conventional layout, with the tailplane mounted mid-fuselage featuring straight, swept leading edges and equipped with elevators fitted with trim tabs. The vertical stabilizer was triangular in shape, complemented by a rounded rudder extending above the fuselage.[2]
In contrast to the wooden wings, the fuselage primarily utilized metal construction. From the propeller to just beyond the wing root, it maintained a constant diameter defined by the wide-chord NACA cowling enclosing a 525 kW (700 hp) licence-produced Pratt & Whitney Hornet radial engine. The fuselage then tapered toward the tail section. Structurally, it consisted of a rectangular chrome-molybdenum steel frame covered with aluminium at the front and plywood aft of the cockpit. The streamlined cockpit was positioned low, placing the crew near the wing’s trailing edge. The PL.3 incorporated a conventional landing gear system with main wheels that retracted rearward into the wing, leaving a small portion visible when stowed.[2]
Operational history
The PL.3 was among the numerous aircraft entered in the 1934 London to Melbourne air race, competing for the MacRobertson Trophy and a £10,000 reward. The event was planned to commence on 20 October 1934, with the PL.3 officially registered as a participant in May of that year. By early September, it had been assigned race number 61, and the pilot team had been selected; despite not having conducted any flight tests, it remained a potential contender. The pilots chosen were Francis Lombardi and Vittori Suster, both seasoned aviators whose careers dated back to the First World War. Lombardi was known for undertaking many competitive long-distance flights, while Suster had accumulated seven years of airline experience, most recently serving as chief pilot.
Although the specific cause for its withdrawal is unclear, the PL.3 was one of several registered entrants that either withdrew prematurely or failed to appear at RAF Mildenhall—the race's starting location—during the week leading up to the event.
Specifications
References
- ↑ Thompson, Jonathan (1963). Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930-1945. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, Inc. p. 99.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Who's who in the MacRobertson race". Flight. XXVI (1341): 617–618. 6 September 1934.
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