Caproni Ca.18

The Caproni Ca.18 was a single‑seat, low‑power monoplane built in Italy shortly after World I by the pioneering aircraft builder Gianni Caproni. First flown in 1919, the Ca.18 was derived from the earlier Ca.5 bomber series but was scaled down and equipped with a 35 kW (45 hp) Anzani three‑cylinder radial engine, giving it modest speed and climb performance suitable for sport and training. Its wooden frame, fabric‑covered wings and a simple fixed‑pitch wooden propeller reflected the construction techniques of the era, while the open cockpit offered the pilot clear visibility. Only a handful of examples were produced, primarily for participation in early Italian air meets and for use by flying clubs that sought affordable aircraft for pilot instruction. Though the type did not achieve commercial success, the Ca.18 demonstrated Caproni’s ability to transition from wartime heavy bombers to peacetime civil aviation, influencing later designs such as the Ca.20 and Ca.30 series. The aircraft’s modest success helped lay the groundwork for Italy’s interwar aeronautical industry and contributed to the training of a generation of pilots who would later serve in the Regia Aeronautica.