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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0389.PDF
. APRIL 8, 1920 THE AMERICAN-BUILT CAPRONI BIPLANE THE Italian Caproni biplane, which was developed during theWar, and played a by no means small part in same, was from the first unique on account of its original design, viz., inhaving two fuselages and a nacelle, each with its own power plant. Not entirely original, perhaps, as regards twinfuselages, for the French Nieuport firm brought out an experimental monoplane having two fuselages, but it was aiingle-engined machine, and the fuselages merely served as outriggers for the tail. In the Caproni biplanes, which have parts were systematically eliminated and replaced with partsand materials of American standard types and qualities. The main planes are built up in five sections, correspondingsections in upper and lower planes being of equal length. The centre section, which measures some 16 ft., carries, onthe lower panel, the central nacelle, the two fuselages and the undercarriage, and thus forms a main self-contained unitcapable of easy transport within a minimum of space. The intermediate and outer extensions, which measure about 1 1 WpllJ*1 ' ••'••• ••'- : ••-' • - -'••-.• . -^ .sib-* PI•m\ 1' - —w» •i t H . '' \ i ' •• •' 1 i t • • ' '. • '• I it < '- '-it "\ r • ||*" • '• ' • i- x Front view of the American-built Caproni biplane changed only as regards types of engines and minor detailssince the first one was laid down in 1915, the two fuselages not only carry the tail but carry in the nose of each anengine driving a tractor screw, whilst between the fuselages is a nacelle carrying the crew and, at the rear, a third enginedriving a pusher screw. The Caproni was one of several types of Allied machineswhich were to be manufactured in America for use in the theatre of war, and at the time of the Armistice everythingwas ready for the mass production of the Caproni biplane. Several were, as a matter of fact, constructed, and the accom-panying illustrations and data refer to a machine manufac- tured by the Standard Aircraft Corporation of Elizabeth, N.J.The American Caproni differs from its Italian prototype only in minor details, the general design being identical. It isequipped with three low-compression Liberty engines of 330 h.p. each, which being more powerful than previous powerplants necessitated an increase in some of the dimensions, and to make quantity production possible, special materials and 18 ft. 6 ins. and 13 ft. respectively, also take up little space,and are fitted to each other and the centre section by means of male and female box fittings and pins. A modification ofthe Eiffel No. 36 wing section is employed, the camber of the under curve being 3-267 ins. and that of the upper curve7-618 ins., and the maximum ordinates occurring 31-4.96 ins. and 39-37 ins. respectively from the leading edge. Themaximum thickness ot the section is 4-665 ins., occurring 55-118 ins. from the leading edge. The main spars are of thebox type, the centre section and the intermediate upper plane section spars being of ash, and all others of spruce or Douglasfir. They are wrapped with fabric between ribs and measure iif ins. by 3! ins. All the ribs, double ribs and box ribs areof white wood and ash, and the capstrip is screwed in pc sition and not nailed. There are altogether nine bays in the complete wing struc-ture, disposed three for the centre section, two for each inter- mediate and one for each outer section. All incidence wiresare No. 10 steel wire, except in the centre section, where Side view of the American-built Caproni biplane D 2
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