CANSA
CANSA C.5
The CANSA C.5 was a lightweight, low‑wing trainer and liaison aircraft produced in Italy during the late 1930s by the small but innovative firm Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali S.A. (CANSA). First flown in 1937, the C.5 was designed to meet the Regia Aeronautica’s demand for an economical, easy‑to‑maintain platform that could prepare novice pilots for the more demanding frontline fighters. Its airframe combined a wooden monocoque fuselage with a simple steel tube wing structure, a configuration that kept weight down while allowing rapid repair in field conditions. Powered by a reliable 90 hp Alfa Romeo 110 air‑cooled inline engine, the C.5 achieved a maximum speed of about 210 km/h and a modest service ceiling of 5,800 m, suitable for basic flight instruction and short‑range reconnaissance.
Although only a few dozen units were built before production halted in 1941, the C.5 played a notable role in Italy’s pre‑war pilot training program. Its straightforward design influenced later Italian trainer concepts and demonstrated the feasibility of using mixed‑material construction for cost‑effective aircraft. Today, the CANSA C.5 is remembered as a modest yet significant step in the evolution of Italian military aviation training methods.
Although only a few dozen units were built before production halted in 1941, the C.5 played a notable role in Italy’s pre‑war pilot training program. Its straightforward design influenced later Italian trainer concepts and demonstrated the feasibility of using mixed‑material construction for cost‑effective aircraft. Today, the CANSA C.5 is remembered as a modest yet significant step in the evolution of Italian military aviation training methods.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1939
Design & Classification
- Primary Use
- Manufacturer
- CANSA
- Wikidata ID
- Q3648482