Caproni Ca.101

The Caproni Ca.101 was a three‑engine transport aircraft built in Italy by the aeronautical firm Caproni during the early 1930s. Designed as a civilian counterpart to the military Ca.100 trainer, the Ca.101 first flew in 1931 and entered service with both commercial airlines and the Regia Aeronautica. Its high‑wing, cantilever monoplane layout featured a wooden fuselage covered with fabric and a metal‑skinned wing structure. Powered by three 300‑hp Alfa Romeo 125 radial engines mounted on the wing, it could carry up to 12–14 passengers or a payload of roughly 1,200 kg, while cruising at 185 km/h and achieving a range of about 900 km. The aircraft’s generous cabin space, robust undercarriage and relatively simple maintenance made it popular for routes over the Italian colonies in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Although quickly superseded by more modern monoplanes, the Ca.101 demonstrated the viability of multi‑engine transport designs for both civilian and military logistics, influencing later Italian airliners such as the Ca.133. A total of 70 units were built, and several survived into the early years of World II, where they were employed as light transports and liaison aircraft. Its operational record helped cement Caproni’s reputation as a versatile aircraft manufacturer during the interwar period.