The Caproni-Reggiane Ca.8000 was a four-engine seaplane passenger transport aircraft project for transatlantic crossings.
History
The project started in 1944, imagining the post-war commercial scenario. The project was started in the Reggiane technical office at that time in
Clanezzo,
Bergamo
Bergamo ( , ; ) is a city in the Alps, alpine Lombardy region of northern Italy, approximately northeast of Milan, and about from the alpine lakes Lake Como, Como and Lake Iseo, Iseo and 70 km (43 mi) from Lake Garda, Garda and Lake ...
. The feasibility studies were carried out by the designers until the end of the conflict, so for business strategies any aeronautical industrial project was abandoned and with it also the development of the Ca.8000 that was at an advanced development point. In fact, the construction of two first prototypes was scheduled for the summer of 1946.
Development
The Ca.8000 was to have been of entirely metallic construction, with fuel tanks in watertight wings. Designed to offer luxurious accommodation, the fuselage was divided in two decks, with beds in sleeping compartments and seats for 52 passengers; whilst for day flights the cabins sat 76, with ten crew members. Facilities on-board included a restaurant, bar and meeting room, .
The Ca.8000 was designed with four
Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major
The Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major is an American 28-cylinder four-row radial engine, radial reciprocating engine, piston aircraft engine designed and built during World War II. At , it is the largest-displacement aviation piston engine to be ...
engines, high-wing with retractable wing floats, and a triple
vertical stabilizer
A vertical stabilizer or tail fin is the static part of the vertical tail of an aircraft. The term is commonly applied to the assembly of both this fixed surface and one or more movable rudders hinged to it. Their role is to provide control, sta ...
.
References
Bibliography
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{{Portal bar, Italy, Companies, Aviation
Reggiane aircraft
Caproni aircraft
Cancelled aircraft projects
Flying boats
Four-engined tractor aircraft
High-wing aircraft