Caproni Ca.309

Ca.309
Role	Reconnaissance
Manufacturer	Caproni
First flight	1937
Retired	1948
Primary users	Italian Air Force; Hungary,; Yugoslavia,; Peru,; Paraguayan Air Arm

The Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli was an Italian aircraft used in World War II. Its nickname served as the inspiration for Studio Ghibli's name.

Development[]

The Caproni Ca.309 was designed by Cesare Pallavicino, based on the Ca.308 Borea transport. It was intended to replace the obsolete biplane IMAM Ro.1. It was intended to serve as a reconnaissance and ground-attack aircraft.

The Ca.309 was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a piston engine fitted to each wing.

The aircraft was also produced in Bulgaria. That variant, 24 of which were built, was known as the Kaproni-Bulgarski KB 6/KB 309 Papagal.

Operations[]

The Ca. 309 served in Libya during the first part of World War II, with good operative results.^[1]

After the loss of the African colonies, the surviving planes were returned to Italy, where they were used as transports. Two Ghiblis were bought by the Paraguayan government for its Military Air Arm. They were used as transport planes from 1939 to 1945 and in that year they were transferred to Líneas Aéreas de Transporte Nacional (LATN), the Paraguayan first airline which was run by the Military Aviation. They were in active service until the early 1950s and later sold to a private Argentine owner.

Operators[]

Italy

Regia Aeronautica

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Air Force

Paraguay

Paraguayan Air Arm (two Ca.309)
Líneas Aéreas de Transporte Nacional (LATN) used two ex-Paraguayan Air Arm Ca.309s

Specifications (Ca.309)[]

General characteristics

Crew: 3
Length: 12.85 m (42.16 ft)
Wingspan: 16.20 m (53.15 ft)
Height: 3.04 m (9.98 ft)
Wing area: 38.70 m² (416.6 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,960 kg (4,190 lb)
Loaded weight: 2,930 kg (6,460 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Alfa Romeo 115-II 6-cylinder inline engine, 390 hp (291 kw) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
Range: 1,050 km (652 mi)
Service ceiling: 4,250 m (14,000 ft)

Armament

Guns: 3 × 7.7 mm (.303 in) Breda SAFAT machine guns

Bombs: up to 330 kg

Notes[]

↑ Section Storia: History of the "Ghibli" in Libya during WWII (in Italian)

References[]

External links[]

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[1] Section Storia: History of the "Ghibli" in Libya during WWII (in Italian)

[1]