Caproni Vizzola F.4

The Caproni Vizzola F.4 was an Italian single‑seat fighter prototype developed in the early 1940s by the Caproni Vizzola division of the larger Caproni aircraft conglomerate. Conceived as a response to the Regia Aeronautica’s demand for a high‑performance interceptor to replace aging biplanes, the F.4 first flew on 23 April 1941. Its airframe combined a low‑wing monoplane configuration with all‑metal construction, a retractable undercarriage and a streamlined fuselage that incorporated lessons learned from earlier Caproni designs such as the Ca.335. Power was supplied by a 1,000 hp Isotta Fraschini Delta RC.40 radial engine, driving a three‑bladed propeller and feeding a pair of 12.7 mm Breda machine guns mounted in the nose. The aircraft demonstrated an impressive maximum speed of 630 km/h and a climb rate exceeding 1,200 m in the first five minutes, rivaling contemporary Allied fighters. Although testing revealed promising handling, production was halted when the Italian war effort collapsed and newer designs like the Macchi C.205 proved more viable. The F.4 remains a notable example of Italy’s late‑war attempt to field advanced high‑speed fighters and illustrates the technical ambition of Caproni’s Vizzola branch.

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