Caproni Ca.306

The Caproni Ca.306 was an Italian prototype bomber developed in the late 1930s by the renowned aircraft manufacturer Caproni. Conceived as a twin‑engine, low‑wing monoplane, the Ca.306 was intended to replace older biplane bombers and to demonstrate Caproni’s ability to produce modern all‑metal aircraft for the Regia Aeronautica. Its first flight took place in early 1937 from the company’s Taliedo airfield, piloted by test ace Mario D'Agostini. The aircraft was powered by two 900 hp Fiat A.80 radial engines, driving three‑bladed propellers and giving it a top speed of roughly 440 km/h. A sleek, fully enclosed cockpit housed a crew of three, while a spacious bomb bay under the fuselage could carry up to 1,200 kg of ordnance. Defensive armament consisted of three 7.7 mm machine guns mounted in dorsal, ventral and nose positions. Although the Ca.306 displayed respectable handling and modern aerodynamics, it was eclipsed by the more capable Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (CR) series, and the project was cancelled after only two prototypes were built. Nevertheless, the Ca.306 contributed valuable data on all‑metal construction and high‑power radial installations, influencing later Italian medium bombers such as the Savoia‑Marchetti SM.79.