Caproni Ca.164
{{Infobox aircraft
|name=Ca.164
|image=Caproni Ca.164.jpg
|caption=
|type=Military trainer aircraft
|manufacturer=Caproni
|designer=Raffaele Conflenti
|first_flight=1938
|introduction=
|retired=
|status=
|primary_user=Regia Aeronautica
|more_users=Armée de l'Air
|produced=
|variants=
}}
The Caproni Ca.164 was a training biplane produced in Italy shortly prior to World War II. It was a largely conventional biplane intended as a follow-on to the Ca.100 and sharing that aircraft's layout with a slightly smaller upper wing.
Development
The prototype was designated the Ca.163, built by Caproni Taliedo and first flown on 17 November 1938. It had a steel tube fuselage, wooden wings, and fabric covering.{{cite web|title=Caproni Ca.163|url=http://www.museocaproni.it/index.php/en/collezioni-en/123-caproni-en/406-caproni-ca-163-en|website=Museo dell'Aeronautica Gianni Caproni|accessdate=5 April 2017}} Flight testing revealed some poor handling characteristics, however, which made it completely unsuitable for its intended role. Nevertheless, the Regia Aeronautica acquired some 280 examples of the Ca.164 to use in liaison roles within bomber units. Some of these were pressed into use for tactical reconnaissance during the Croatian campaign. The Armée de l'Air also purchased 100 aircraft.
Operators
; {{FRA}}
; {{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}
;{{ITA}}
Surviving aircraft
No examples of the Ca.164 survive, but the prototype Ca.163 is on display at the Gianni Caproni Museum of Aeronautics, Trento Airport, Italy. As a private venture, it was originally not registered, but it was later registered I-WEST.
Specifications
File:Caproni Ca.163 I-WEST.jpg
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units? = met
|crew=2, pilot and instructor
|length m=7.74
|length ft=25
|length in=4
|span m=9.75
|span ft=32
|span in=0
|height m=3.00
|height ft=9
|height in=10
|wing area sqm=22.4
|wing area sqft=241
|empty weight kg=850
|empty weight lb=1874
|gross weight kg=1175
|gross weight lb=2590
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Alfa Romeo 115
|eng1 kw=138
|eng1 hp=185
|max speed kmh=230
|max speed mph=143
|range km=530
|range miles=329
|ceiling m=4200
|ceiling ft=13780
|climb rate ms=3.6
|climb rate ftmin=708
}}
See also
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
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}}
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
{{commons category|Caproni Ca.164}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Domange|first1=Yves|title=Quand les démocraties occidentales achetaient des avions dans l'Italie fasciste... (1ère partie: la France)|journal=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=February 1999 |issue=71 |pages=16–24 |trans-title=When Western Democracies Bought Their Aircraft from Fascist Italy... (Part 1: France) |language=French |issn=1243-8650}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Morareau|first1=Lucien|title=Courrier des Lecteurs|journal=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=March 1999 |issue=72 |page=3 |trans-title= Readers' Letters |language=French |issn=1243-8650}}
- {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=236 }}
- {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages=File 891 Sheet 10 }}
{{Caproni aircraft}}
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