Caproni Ca 133

Review

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In the vast annals of aircraft design and development, few aircraft are able to make a difference in the way aviation is conducted. The others just fade away into memory. One of those air platforms that ‘faded’ was the Italian built Caproni Ca. 133 bomber/transport airplane. The three-engine 133 was directly developed from the relative successful Ca. 101s bomber/transport series. Both types (101 and 133) were designed around three Piaggio engines, overall low weight and a large wing structure. Caproni’s design team wanted to assure the aircraft could take off from short runways as well as operate in rudimentary air facilities.

Almost 500 Ca. 133 were produced from 1935 to the fall of 1936. The aircraft first saw combat operations on the Ethiopian theater in 1936. The aircraft proved highly useful in transporting troops and equipment to the conflict area. In fact, its performance at Ethiopia earned the plane’s distinction as Italy’s top colonial air asset. But while in Ethiopia the 133 proved to be a hit, the Spanish Civil War was another story. There the 133′s flaws were exposed. The plane that performed so admirably against little opposition in Italy’s colonial affairs proved to be too slow, and highly vulnerable to enemy Polikarpov I-15 and 16 airplanes, as well as ground fire. Still, the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) pressed on and utilized the type as a troop transport during Italy’s invasion of Albania in 1939.

The Italian AF fielded fourteen Ca.133s squadrons, most of them deployed in forward operating bases in support of Italian ground troops during the early days of the country’s disastrous African campaigns. At the beginning, the Regia used the 133s only as a bombing platform. But much like it happen above the skies of Spain; the heavy losses suffered by the aircraft at the hands of faster and more maneuverable airplanes forced the Italians to deploy the Ca. 133 as a transport unit only. Still, British pilots had a field day in the Libyan western desert picking apart Ca.133s as they took off.

Base on the 133′s airframe, Caproni developed the Ca. 148. The 148 was an 18-strong passenger transport. There was also a dedicated air ambulance version of the 133. Both versions survived the war. After the Armistice in 1943, a handful of 133s and 148s were retained for civilian service with the airline Ala Littoria. A few units were exported to Austria between 1944 and 1945.

The last Ca.133 was officially decommissioned in 1947, and the last Ca.148 flew until 1956 with the Italian Aero club.

Power Plant: Three Piaggio 460hp Stella P IVV C-16 radial piston engines
Wingspan: 21.4m
Length: 15.36m
Height: 4.0m
Total Wing Area: 65.0m square
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 6691kg
Top Speed: 254kph
Operational Range: 1350km
Service Ceiling: 5500m
Climb Rate: 286m per minute

Story By: Raul Colon e-mail:rcolonfrias@yahoo.com