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Caproni Vizzola Calif A-21S

  The Caproni company, formed in 1910, is Italy's oldest aircraft manufacturer and was best known for its bombers, such as the pioneer Ca 30 heavy bomber of 1913, and a line of 'Type Coloniale' bomber transports ДальшеMore>>> such as the Ca 133 used in the Italian African colonies. In recent years it has concentrated largely on subcontract work, but in 1969 began producing a series of Calif sailplanes designed by Carlo Ferrarin and Livio Sonzio; these were the A-10, of which one was built, the A-12 (two built), the A-14 (one built) and A-15 (one built) and the A-20; an improved two-seater version of the latter, designated A-20S, is now being developed. The original A-21, the prototype of which made its first flight on 23 November 1970, was a high performance two-seat version of the A-14, from which it differed in having a slightly longer fuselage widened to accommodate two in luxurious side-by-side seating. This version is now out of production and has been succeeded by the A-21S, which currently holds as many as four world records for two-seaters; among these is the current Class D2 speed record for women over a 300km closed circuit, set up on 18 August 1974 by Adele Orsi and Franca Bellingeri in an A-21S at a speed of 60.73mph. Over 100 A-21S Califs have so far been built, production of a third batch of 54 being ordered by January 1980, of which 29 had been delivered. The cantilever mid wings have a wide constant chord centre section and tapered trapezoid outer panels, and are all-metal; the three-piece all-metal main spar is supplemented by two auxiliary spars in the centre section and one in each outer panel, the downturned wing tips being of glassfibre. The trailing edge flaps/spoilers can act as air brakes when deflected to 89 downwards, and as camber-changing surfaces between ±8°; the plain ailerons are differentially-operated. The forward fuselage is a glassfibre/foam plastics semi-monocoque structure with a load-carrying light alloy frame, and the rear fuselage is a thin boom of all-metal stressed skin construction. The distinctive high aspect ratio fin and rudder is all-metal, and has the all-moving metal tailplane and elevator, which both have glassfibre tips, mounted on top; the tailplane trim is spring-adjusted. The mechanically-retractable twin main wheels have rubber-in-compression shock absorbers and a brake, and there is a fixed steerable tailwheel, as well as a small wheel in each downturned wing tip. The two pilots have dual controls under a rearward-sliding two-piece canopy, and sit in luxury seating equivalent to the best light plane standards.


Data: A-21S
Span: 66 ft 10 1/4 in
Length: 25 ft 4 1/2 in
Height: 5 ft 3 1/2 in
Wing area: 174.3 sqft
Aspect ratio: 25.65
Empty weight: 961 lb
Max weight: 1,419 lb
Max speed: 156 mph
Max aero-tow speed: 87 mph
Min sinking speed: 1.97 ft/sec at 53 mph
Best glide ratio: 43:1 at 65 mph



Caproni Vizzola Calif A-21SJ

  The first powered version of the Caproni Vizzola Calif A-21 two-seater was fitted with a 202lb st Microturbo TRS 18 single-shaft turbojet of French design installed at the rear of the cockpit, and this version, known as the A-21J, first flew at the end of January 1972. In 1976 the sole prototype of the A-21J was acquired by the Lockheed-Georgia Co for use in a joint research programme with Mississippi State University. The J was succeeded by the A-21SJ, which first flew in May 1977 and is based on the current production A-21S sailplane; this is powered by a 1981 b st Microturbo TRS 18-046 turbojet aft of the cockpit, with a dorsal intake that can be closed in flight when soaring. Up to 242.5lb of fuel is carried in fuselage and wing tanks, and there is a starter/generator and batteries for in-flight and ground starting; this same engine also powers the Bede BD-5J jet lightplane. Apart from the engine the A-21SJ is very similar to the A-21S, but has larger mainwheels and tailwheel. Two A-21SJs had been completed by May 1979 and five more were being built. One A-21SJ was being tested with a more powerful Microturbo TRS 18 jet of 242.5 lbst.


Data: A-21SJ
Span: 66 ft 10 1/4 in
Length: 25 ft 4 1/2 in
Height: 5 ft 3 1/2 in
Wing area: 174.3 sqft
Aspect ratio: 25.65
Empty weight: 1,164 lb
Max weight: 1,781 lb
Max level speed: 143 mph (power on)
Max rate of climb: 787 ft/min (sea level, power on)
Take-off run: 985 ft (power on)