The Campini Caproni Project

History

Eng. Secondo Campini started this project in 1930 and it was a revolutionary plane for the time using a new prop-less engine system. Campini patented the project in january 1931 but found no interest either in the military or the civilian market. Only in 1934 he finally convinced the Regia Aeronautica chiefs of the potential of the plane and two prototypes were ordered. Not having himself the capability of building the planes he joined the Caproni airplane factory and work finally started late 1934.
It took a long time until the first one was completed, in the summer of 1940, finally being flown by Commander Mario De Bernardi on august 27th 1940. It was a complete success and the CC.1 (Campini Caproni #1) was the very first italian jet plane ever flown, just one year later the Heinkel 176, the german built very first jet plane ever.
Test continued at Milano-Taliedo in 1940-41 and an important flight was the one on november 30th 1941. The CC.1 flew from Milan to Rome (475 km) setting a world record for having been the first jet plane to carry passengers (one) and mail.
In the while the second prototype CC.2 had flown on august 31st 1941 and tests continued on both machines in 1942.
In 1943 one was lost during a bombing run while the other survived the war and is at present stored, in perfect conditions, at the Italian Air Force musem at Vigna di Valle near Rome.

More facts on the CC available here:

http://www.museoscienza.org/english/aereo/caproni.html

http://www.regiamarina.net/arsenals/planes_it/jet/jet_us.htm

http://tanks45.tripod.com/Jets45/Histories/CC-2/CC-2.htm

[Bibliography]

Gregory Alegi, CAMPINI CAPRONI, serie Ali d'Italia n.5 mini (english/italian text).

Giuseppe Ciampaglia, La propulsione a reazione in Italia dalle origini al 1943, Uffico Storico A.M.

Daniele Lembo, Il Campini Caproni e i velivoli a reazione della Regia , Aerei nella Storia N.13 agosto-settembre 2000 (italian text).

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Technical data