CAP-4 Paulistinha
{{Short description|Brazilian trainer aircraft}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name=CAP-4 Paulistinha
|image=Cap4paulistinha.JPG
|caption=Brazilian Navy CAP-4 preserved at the Museu Asas de um Sonho
|type=Trainer
|designer=
|first_flight=1935
|introduction=
|retired=
|status=
|primary_user=
|more_users=
|produced=
|number_built=1.149
|variants=
}}
The CAP-4 Paulistinha was a military and civilian trainer aircraft built in Brazil during the 1930s and 1940s.
Design and development
The CAP-4 was originally developed by Empresa Aeronáutica Ypiranga as an unlicensed copy of the Taylor Cub powered by a Salmson 9Ad radial engine. It featured a high strut-braced wing, two enclosed tandem seats, and a steel-tube fuselage with fabric covering. Its tailwheel undercarriage was not retractable.
EAY had built five examples by the time that the firm was purchased by Companhia Aeronáutica Paulista in 1942. CAP continued manufacturing the type under the designation CAP-4.
The type was widely successful, with nearly 800 units being produced for Brazil's flying clubs and armed forces, as well as for export to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay and Portugal. At the time of peak production in 1943, a new CAP-4 left the factory every day, and production continued until 1948.
In 1956, Sociedade Aeronáutica Neiva acquired the rights renaming it to P-56 Paulistinha, the design was used as the basis for an agricultural aircraft, the P-56 Agricola, adding a fibreglass chemical hopper and spraybars, but this was unable to compete with imported, purpose-built agricultural aircraft.
Variants
;EAY-201
:original radial engined version
;CAP-4
:main production version
;CAP-4B
:air ambulance version (2 prototypes built)
;CAP-4C
:artillery-spotting version, (Paulistinha Rádio or Paulistinha Observação)
;P-56 Agricola
:agricultural version by Neiva (60 built)
;Paulistinha 56-C
:Powered by {{convert|90|hp|kW}} Continental C-90-8F/12F engine. 256 built by Neiva between 1958 and 1964.Taylor 1969, p. 10.
;P56C-1 Paulistinha Rebocador
;Paulistinha 56-D
:More powerful version with {{convert|150|hp|kW}} Lycoming O-320-A1A. Single prototype built, which was designated L-6A by Brazilian Air Force. No production.
;O-6
:Brazilian Air Force designation for an observation variant of the Paulistinha 56-B. Previously designated L-6.{{Cite web |title=Brazilian Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/brazil.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=designation-systems.net}}
Former operators
;{{BRA}}
;{{PAR}}
- Paraguayan Military Aviation 4 aircraft bought in the early 1960s
- Paraguayan Aeroclub 4 aircraft bought in the 1950s
Specifications (CAP-4)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II Bridgman 1998, p. 100.
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=Two, pilot and instructor
|capacity=
|length m=6.65
|length ft=
|length in=
|span m=10.10
|span ft=
|span in=
|height m=1.95
|height ft=
|height in=
|wing area sqm=17.0
|wing area sqft=
|empty weight kg=320
|empty weight lb=
|gross weight kg=540
|gross weight lb=
|fuel capacity={{convert|58|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Franklin 4AC
|eng1 type=air-cooled flat-four engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=65
|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=155
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|cruise speed kmh=140
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|range km=500
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|ceiling m=4000
|ceiling ft=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=610
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
References
;Notes
{{Reflist}}
;Bibliography
- {{cite book|last=Bridgman|first=Leonard|title=Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II|year=1998|orig-year=1946 (Reproduction of 1945/46 Jane's All The World's Aircraft) |publisher=Tiger Books|location=Twickenham, UK|isbn=1-85501-994-9}}
- {{cite book|last=Taylor|first=John W. R.|title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969–70|year=1969|publisher=Sampson Low Marston & Company|location=London|isbn=0-354-00051-9|author-link=John W. R. Taylor}}
- {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=230 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928051516/http://www.gmzserver2.com/acj/html/cap_historia.htm Aeroclube de Joinville website]
External links
{{commons category|CAP-4 Paulistinha}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080907071334/http://www.naval.com.br/ANB/ANB-aeronaves/CAP_Paulistinha/CAP_Paulistinha.htm Brazilian Naval Air Arm - CAP Paulistinha]
{{CAP aircraft}}
{{Indústria Aeronáutica Neiva}}
{{FAB aircraft designations}}
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft
Category:1930s Brazilian military trainer aircraft
Category:1930s Brazilian civil trainer aircraft
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1935