Caproni Ca.603
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Aircraft |
The Caproni Ca.603 was an aerobatic training aircraft produced in Italy by Caproni during the early 1940s.
Design
Based on the two-seat training model Ca.602, the Ca.603 featured a reduced wing area and a more robust framework, incorporating strong interplane struts between the upper and lower wings. Its fuselage was constructed from welded steel tubing, covered with duralumin panels up to the cockpit area, while the remainder was finished in fabric. The wings maintained the same span and were built around a wooden dual-spar structure; plywood sheathing covered the leading edges and wingtips, with fabric stretched over the remaining surfaces. The wings were joined by tubular steel struts reinforced with bracing wires. The fixed landing gear included independent wheels, a swiveling tailwheel, and an open cockpit for steering control. A redesigned empennage featured a significantly broader tail assembly.
Development
Flight evaluations carried out between November and December 1940 rated the aircraft’s aerobatic capabilities as outstanding, except for performance in the spin maneuver, likely hindered by the oversized tail surfaces. Despite this, it was regarded as one of the finest aerobatic planes available at the time. Recommendations were made to alter the wing profile near the cockpit area and to potentially adjust both the length and shape of the vertical stabilizer.
By May 1942, the sole prototype had been relocated to Rome-Centocelle Airport; following 1943, no further records of the aircraft exist.
Variants
- Ca.602
- two-seat training aircraft
- Ca.603
- single-seat aerobatic model derived from the Ca.602
Specifications (Ca.603)
References
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