Caproni Ca.60

The Caproni Ca.60 Transaero was a massive flying boat prototype designed and developed in Italy in the early 1920s. A product of Gianni Caproni's engineering vision, the Ca.60 was built to operate commercial passenger flights across the Atlantic Ocean. Its nine wings, eight engines, and boat-like fuselage were a testament to the engineering design philosophy of its era.

Purpose of Development and History

The development of the Caproni Ca.60 was aimed at creating a large civil flying boat capable of carrying passengers over the Atlantic Ocean. The project reflected the interest in large aircraft designs following World War I. The aircraft was built in 1921 in Sesto Calende on the shores of Italy's Lake Maggiore. It was designed to have a capacity of 100 passengers. The Ca.60 was only able to make one short flight, and the project was canceled shortly after.

Design and Technical Specifications

The Caproni Ca.60 featured a unique design:

• Wing Structure: The most distinctive feature of the aircraft was its nine-wing (three tandem triplanes) biplane configuration, consisting of three main wing sets. These wing sets were positioned at the front, middle, and rear of the fuselage.
• Engines: There were a total of eight Liberty L-12 V-12 engines on the wing sets. Some of these engines operated as pushers, while others were tractors. Each engine produced 400 horsepower.
• Fuselage: The aircraft's fuselage was a large, boat-like form, with a double hull designed for marine operations, inspired by the large passenger ships of the era. This fuselage housed the passenger cabins and crew areas.
• Dimensions: It was approximately 23 meters (75 feet) long and had a wingspan of 30 meters (98 feet). Its empty weight was around 14,000 kg (30,865 pounds).
• Interior Structure: The goal was to accommodate 100 passengers with seats spread across two decks within the fuselage.

Operational Status and Fate

The Caproni Ca.60 Transaero was only able to perform one short test flight over Lake Maggiore. During this first and only flight on March 4, 1921, it lifted off the water, lost control by pitching its nose up, and crashed into the lake. The aircraft was severely damaged in the crash and was soon completely destroyed by a fire. Following this incident, Caproni decided to abandon the project.

Significance and Legacy

The Caproni Ca.60 was an experimental multi-winged aircraft designed by the Italian engineer Gianni Caproni in 1921. Noteworthy for its nine-wing structure and eight-engine configuration, this aircraft represents one of the early visions for transatlantic passenger transport. Planned to carry around 100 passengers, the Ca.60 was one of the first engineering attempts at large-scale civil air transport. Although it did not achieve operational success, the Caproni Ca.60 is remembered in aviation history as an example of bold and experimental design, and it is considered a symbol of the effort to push technological boundaries.