Caproni Ca.60

Caproni Ca.60 Noviplano oli yhdeksänsiipinen sadan hengen kuljetukseen suunniteltu lentoveneen prototyyppi. Siinä oli kahdeksan moottoria ja kolme kolmen siiven ryhmää.

Tämän vallankumouksellisen lentokoneen oli tarkoitus kuljettaa matkustajia Ranskasta Yhdysvaltoihin ja takaisin. 

Koneesta rakennettiin vain yksi prototyyppi, ja se teki ainoan lentonsa 4. maaliskuuta 1921 Maggiorejärven yli Italiassa. 

Kone saavutti 18 metrin korkeuden (60 jalkaa) mutta kaatui pian sen jälkeen ja hajosi. Lentäjä pääsi koneesta vahingoittumattomana. 

Romuttunut lentokone otettiin talteen, mutta se paloi myöhemmin salaperäisessä tulipalossa.
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Caproni Ca. 60 Noviplano

                 
The Caproni Ca.60 Transaereo, often referred to as the Noviplano (nine-wing) or Capronissimo, was the prototype of a large nine-wing flying boat intended to become a 100-passenger transatlantic airliner. It featured eight engines and three sets of triple wings.

Only one example of this aircraft, designed by Italian aviation pioneer Gianni Caproni, was built by the Caproni company. 

It was tested on Lake Maggiore in 1921: its brief maiden flight took place on February 12 or March 2. 

Its second flight was March 4; shortly after takeoff, the aircraft crashed on the water surface and broke up upon impact. 

The Ca.60 was further damaged when the wreck was towed to shore and, in spite of Caproni's intention to rebuild the aircraft, the project was soon abandoned because of its excessive cost. 

The few surviving parts are on display at the Gianni Caproni Museum of Aeronautics and at the Volandia aviation museum in Italy.

General characteristics
Crew: 8
Capacity: 100 passengers
Length: 23.45 m (77 ft)
Wingspan: 30.0 m (98 ft 5 in)
Height: 9.15 m (30 ft)
Wing area: 750,00 m² (8073 ft²)
Empty weight: 14,000 kg (30,865 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 26,000 kg (57,320 lb)
Powerplant: 8 × Liberty L-12 liquid-cooled V12 engines, 294 kW (400 hp) each
Cruise speed: 130 km/h (70 kn, 80 mph)

Range: 660 km (360 nmi, 410 mi)