The Caproni Vizzola F.6 was a World War II-era Italian fighter aircraft built by Caproni. It was a single-seat, low-wing cantilever monoplane with retractable landing gear. Only two prototypes were built, one designated F.6M and the other designated F.6Z.
F.6
The Caproni Vizzola F.6M prototype after replacement of the radiator under its nose with a ventral radiator
The Caproni Vizzola F.6M prototype as originally built with a deep radiator under the nose. It was later removed and replaced by a ventral radiator in order to reduce aerodynamic drag.
The F.6 design was the result of a project to adapt the airframe of the Italian Caproni Vizzola F.5 fighter with the GermanDaimler-Benz DB 605A liquid-cooled inverted V-12 engine. To accomplish this, the Caproni company retained the F.5 fuselage but designed metal wings to replace the wood wings of the F.5. The new aircraft was designated F.6M, with "F" standing for Fabrizi, the designer of the F.5, and "M" for Metallico. It was designed to carry twice the offensive armament of the F.5, with four instead of two 12.7-millimeter (0.50-inch) Breda-SAFAT machine guns; the prototype F.6M flew with two of these mounted in the fuselage and provision for two more in the wings, although the wing guns were never mounted.[1]
The F.6M prototype first flew in September 1941, using a large radiator mounted under the nose, just behind the propeller. Flight testing showed that this location produced significant aerodynamic drag, and the prototype was reworked to mount the radiator on the belly, aft of the pilot position.[1]
The sole F.6M prototype was damaged in a collision at Bresso airfield. After this accident, Caproni decided to end the F.6M project and instead concentrate on the more advanced Caproni Vizzola F.7 fighter.[1]
The Caproni Vizzola F.6Z prototype.
F.6Zedit
Shortly after Caproni began to design the F.6M, it began work on a second F.6 prototype, this one designed to use the Isotta Fraschini Zeta R.C.25/60 24-cylinder X-type engine and designated the F.6Z, with "Z" standing for Zeta. The aircraft was to carry three 12.7-millimeter (0.50-inch) Breda-SAFAT machine guns, one in the fuselage and two in the wings. Problems with engine development greatly delayed the F.6Z, but it finally flew in August 1943.
Testing in August and September 1943 showed that the Zeta engine, although rated at 1,100 kilowatts (1,500 horsepower), was producing only 900 kilowatts (1,200 horsepower), and this problem was not solved before the World War IIItalian armistice with the Allies on 8 September 1943. This brought the F.6Z project to an end. The sole F.6Z prototype was the only fighter to be powered by the Zeta engine.[2] One other fighter type, the Reggiane Re.2004 was also planned with this engine, but was not realized.[3]
An extensively revised F.6 powered by a 1,175 h.p. Alfa Romeo R.A.1000 R.C.44-la Monsone (Monsoon), (license-built DB 601A-l) engine. Development abandoned with the September 1943 armistice.[4]
^Thompson, Jonathan W. (1963). Italian Civil and Military aircraft 1930-1945. USA: Aero Publishers Inc. ISBN0-8168-6500-0. LCCN 63-17621.
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caproni Vizzola F.6.
Garello, Giancarlo (June 2001). "La chasse de nuit italienne (1ère partie: les débuts)" [Italian Night Fighters: The Beginning]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (99): 19–24. ISSN 1243-8650.
Green, William, and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Aircraft Built and Flown. New York: SMITHMARK Publishers, 1994. ISBN0-8317-3939-8.
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The Caproni Vizzola F 6 was a World War II era Italian fighter aircraft built by Caproni It was a single seat low wing cantilever monoplane with retractable landing gear Only two prototypes were built one designated F 6M and the other designated F 6Z F 6The Caproni Vizzola F 6M prototype after replacement of the radiator under its nose with a ventral radiatorRole FighterManufacturer CaproniFirst flight F 6M September 1941F 6Z August 1943Primary user Regia AeronauticaNumber built 2 Contents 1 Development 1 1 F 6M 1 2 F 6Z 2 Operators 3 Variants 4 Specifications F 6M 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesDevelopment editF 6M edit nbsp The Caproni Vizzola F 6M prototype as originally built with a deep radiator under the nose It was later removed and replaced by a ventral radiator in order to reduce aerodynamic drag The F 6 design was the result of a project to adapt the airframe of the Italian Caproni Vizzola F 5 fighter with the German Daimler Benz DB 605A liquid cooled inverted V 12 engine To accomplish this the Caproni company retained the F 5 fuselage but designed metal wings to replace the wood wings of the F 5 The new aircraft was designated F 6M with F standing for Fabrizi the designer of the F 5 and M for Metallico It was designed to carry twice the offensive armament of the F 5 with four instead of two 12 7 millimeter 0 50 inch Breda SAFAT machine guns the prototype F 6M flew with two of these mounted in the fuselage and provision for two more in the wings although the wing guns were never mounted 1 The F 6M prototype first flew in September 1941 using a large radiator mounted under the nose just behind the propeller Flight testing showed that this location produced significant aerodynamic drag and the prototype was reworked to mount the radiator on the belly aft of the pilot position 1 The sole F 6M prototype was damaged in a collision at Bresso airfield After this accident Caproni decided to end the F 6M project and instead concentrate on the more advanced Caproni Vizzola F 7 fighter 1 nbsp The Caproni Vizzola F 6Z prototype F 6Z edit Shortly after Caproni began to design the F 6M it began work on a second F 6 prototype this one designed to use the Isotta Fraschini Zeta R C 25 60 24 cylinder X type engine and designated the F 6Z with Z standing for Zeta The aircraft was to carry three 12 7 millimeter 0 50 inch Breda SAFAT machine guns one in the fuselage and two in the wings Problems with engine development greatly delayed the F 6Z but it finally flew in August 1943 Testing in August and September 1943 showed that the Zeta engine although rated at 1 100 kilowatts 1 500 horsepower was producing only 900 kilowatts 1 200 horsepower and this problem was not solved before the World War II Italian armistice with the Allies on 8 September 1943 This brought the F 6Z project to an end The sole F 6Z prototype was the only fighter to be powered by the Zeta engine 2 One other fighter type the Reggiane Re 2004 was also planned with this engine but was not realized 3 Operators edit nbsp Kingdom of ItalyRegia AeronauticaVariants editF 6M First prototype powered by a German built Daimler Benz DB 605A engine F 6Z Second prototype powered by an Isotta Fraschini Zeta R C 25 60 engine F 7 An extensively revised F 6 powered by a 1 175 h p Alfa Romeo R A 1000 R C 44 la Monsone Monsoon license built DB 601A l engine Development abandoned with the September 1943 armistice 4 Specifications F 6M editData from 2 General characteristicsCrew one Length 9 15 m 30 ft 0 25 in Wingspan 11 35 m 37 ft 3 in Height 3 02 m 9 ft 11 in Wing area 18 81 m2 202 5 sq ft Aspect ratio 6 85 Empty weight 2 265 kg 4 993 lb Gross weight 2 885 kg 6 360 lb Powerplant 1 Daimler Benz DB 605A V 12 inverted liquid cooled piston engine 1 200 kW 1 600 hp Propellers 3 bladedPerformance Maximum speed 569 km h 354 mph 307 kn at 5 000 m 16 000 ft Range 950 km 590 mi 513 nmi at 477 km h 296 mph Wing loading 155 4 kg m2 31 4 lb sq ft Power mass 2 63 kg kWArmament Guns 4 12 7 mm 0 5 in forward firing Breda SAFAT machine gunsSee also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Caproni Vizzola F 5 Curtiss P 40 Warhawk Fiat G 55 Centauro Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc Kawasaki Ki 61 Lavochkin La 5 Macchi C 205 Veltro Messerschmitt Bf 109G Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 3 Reggiane Re 2005 Sagittario Supermarine Spitfire Yakovlev Yak 1Notes edit a b c Green and Swanborough p 109 a b Green and Swanborough p 110 Pietro Prato Caccia Caproni Reggiane 1938 1945 Interconair Genf 1971 Italian Thompson Jonathan W 1963 Italian Civil and Military aircraft 1930 1945 USA Aero Publishers Inc ISBN 0 8168 6500 0 LCCN 63 17621 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caproni Vizzola F 6 Garello Giancarlo June 2001 La chasse de nuit italienne 1ere partie les debuts Italian Night Fighters The Beginning Avions Toute l Aeronautique et son histoire in French 99 19 24 ISSN 1243 8650 Green William and Gordon Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Aircraft Built and Flown New York SMITHMARK Publishers 1994 ISBN 0 8317 3939 8 Portals nbsp Italy nbsp Companies nbsp Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Caproni Vizzola F 6 amp oldid 1136485911, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
