Ca.331 Raffica
| Country | Italy |
| Manufacturer | Caproni |
| Primary Role | Prototype Aircraft |
| Maiden Flight | 31 August 1940 |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseThe Ca.331 Raffica ("Gust of Wind") design was developed by Ing Cesare Pallavacino of the firm Caproni in response to a 1938 Italian Air Ministry requirement for a new tactical reconnaissance combat aircraft. The first variant design, Ca.331 OA or Ca.331A, was completed in Oct 1938, and the twin-engine low-wing all-metal monoplane first took flight in mid-1940. After a brief period of testing, the Italian Air Force declined to issue an order. The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) tested the prototype aircraft and also declined to issue an order despite reported satisfaction with the aircraft's performance. In May 1942, the Italian Air Ministry issued an order for two Ca.331 aircraft to be built as a prototype nightfighter. This design also failed to enter production, the project being scrapped in Jan 1943. The single example of Ca.331 OA prototype aircraft and two examples of Ca.331 CN prototype aircraft (only one of which was actually completed) were captured by the Germans at Taliedo, Italy in 1943 after the Italian surrender. All three would later be scrapped in Germany.
ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia
Last Major Revision: Jan 2013
Ca.331 Raffica Timeline
| 31 Aug 1940 | The Ca.331 OA prototype aircraft took its first flight at Ponte San Pietro, Italy with test pilot Ettore Wengi at the helm. |
SPECIFICATIONS
Ca.331 OA
| Machinery | Two Isotta-Fraschini Delta Rc.40 engines rated at 770hp each |
| Armament | 2x12.7mm wing root Breda-SAFAT machine guns, 1x12.7mm dorsal Breda-SAFAT machine gun, 1x12.7mm ventral Breda-SAFAT machine gun, 1,000kg of bombs |
| Crew | 3 |
| Span | 16.40 m |
| Length | 11.74 m |
| Height | 3.21 m |
| Wing Area | 38.50 m² |
| Weight, Empty | 4,599 kg |
| Weight, Maximum | 6,800 kg |
| Speed, Maximum | 505 km/h |
| Service Ceiling | 8,092 m |
| Range, Maximum | 1,600 km |
Ca.331 CN
| Machinery | Two Isotta-Fraschini Delta IV air-cooled inverted piston supercharged V12 engines rated at 840hp each |
| Armament | 4x20mm nose Mauser MG 151 cannon, 2x12.7mm nose Breda-SAFAT machine gun, 1x12.7mm dorsal Breda-SAFAT machine gun, 1x12.7mm ventral Breda-SAFAT machine gun, 1,000kg of bombs |
| Crew | 3 |
| Span | 16.40 m |
| Length | 11.74 m |
| Height | 3.21 m |
| Wing Area | 38.50 m² |
| Weight, Empty | 4,599 kg |
| Weight, Maximum | 6,800 kg |
| Speed, Maximum | 505 km/h |
| Service Ceiling | 8,092 m |
| Range, Maximum | 1,600 km |
Photographs
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Chiang Kaishek, 31 Jul 1937
