Italian Forces

A little, unknown airplane

Zoli-forlì

This little (wing span 7.40 m, length 7.33 m) and nearly unknown single-seat biplane is the Ca.603 proposed by Caproni to Italian Regia Aeronautica as aerobatic trainer. Designed by Raffaele Conflenti and built by Caproni Aeronautica Predappio, a Caproni Group’s factory based at Predappio, hometown of Benito Mussolini (strangely enough!), the Ca.603, engine one 215 HP Alfa Romeo 115-1, flew on 1940 and was tested between November and December 1940 with good results. The Regia Aeronautica required some modifications but, also for the engagements of the war, the project was abandoned. The only prototype was transferred at Centocelle airfield, Rome, on May 1942 and disappeared during the dramatic events of 1943. Victor Sierra