Caproni Ca.87

Caproni

Industry	Aerospace, Aircraft manufacturing
Founded	1908
Founder	Gianni Caproni
Headquarters	Italy
Products	Aircraft (including Ca.87)

Template:Infobox aircraft

The Caproni Ca.87 was an Italian aircraft designed in the 1920s, intended for long-distance flights, specifically a transatlantic crossing.

Development

In 1927, a group of Polish Americans conceived the idea of organizing a transatlantic flight representing Poland. Two years later, Stanley Adamkevich from Chicago successfully coordinated this project, raising $36,000 through contributions from the Polish American community. The Polish government selected the crew for the mission: Captain Adam Kowalczyk from the 3rd Aviation Regiment and Lieutenant Włodzimierz Klisz, a pilot with LOT Polish Airlines.

Various aircraft models were evaluated for the endeavor, but most proved prohibitively costly. Gianni Caproni, head of the Caproni company, personally offered one of his Caproni Ca.73ter night bombers as a foundation for the Ca.87, which was then modified for the record attempt; this contribution also served as promotional support. The primary modification involved adapting the plane to enable water landings. Progress was swift, and by early May 1929, the aircraft was completed and conducted its maiden flight on 15 June 1929. The plane was named Polonia.

The Ca.87's departure was planned for 4 July 1929, coinciding with Independence Day. The route began at Italy's Medionali airfield and proceeded to Baldonnel airfield near Dublin, Ireland, where they awaited favorable winds. The intended path continued to Terra Nova airport in Canada before ultimately reaching Chicago. However, difficulties arose with the newly installed Isotta Fraschini Asso engines, which operated unreliably; factory technicians were unable to fine-tune them to ensure safe long-distance performance. Additionally, on 13 July, news arrived of another Polish aviator, Ludwik Idzikowski, crashing during his own transatlantic attempt. Consequently, the mission was abandoned. The aircraft was returned to Caproni and subsequently converted back into a bomber configuration.