Caproni-Vizzola "F" series (designs by Fabrizio Fabrizi)

[Stargazer]

The current Caproni auction at Mallams provides some great documents about the Caproni designs of Fabrizio Fabrizi, all designated by the "F" letter.
Instead of simply linking the pages, I prefer to share the entire set of images here (we all know that images often disappear from auction sites after the auction is over).

Here is a set of images depicting the Caproni-Vizzola F.5 of 1940, powered by a 870 hp Fiat A.74 R.C.28 engine. Of course, the F.5 was built in small amounts (13 aircraft), but in the next post I will share images depicting the same type with alternate engine.

 

[Stargazer]

As you can see in these pictures, the Isotta-Fraschini Gamma engine was also considered for the Caproni-Vizzola F.5:

 

[Stargazer]

Not being an engine buff, I couldn't say if the Alfa 150 engine which can be seen in the following pictures is the same or similar to the Alfa R.A.1000 R.C.44 which is said to have powered the sole Caproni-Vizzola F.5 bis but I should think this was an alternate engine installation:

 

[Stargazer]

The Caproni-Vizzola F.6M (for "metal") was a revised F.4 fighter design with fully-metal structure. and you'll see in the following pictures that although the single prototype was flown in September 1941 with a 1,175 hp Daimler-Benz DB 605A engine, an Alfa 150 type was initially considered.

 

[Stargazer]

The Caproni-Vizzola F.6Z was a variant powered by the Isotta-Fraschini Zeta RC.25/60 engine, but in these plans it was planned with the Zeta RC.40 and R.C.45 variants.

 

[Stargazer]

Our forum friend Apophenia has listed two variants of the basic F.6 design, but Caproni documents show there was a third iteration considered in 1943, designated the Caproni-Vizzola F.6S, to be powered by an Isotta-Fraschini Zeta R.C.60:

 

[Stargazer]

Last fighter of the "F" series was the Caproni-Vizzola F.7M (again, "M" for "metal"), a variant with stretched fuselage that was never built. According to these documents, it was to be powered by an Isotta-Fraschini Delta R.C.45 I engine,. Apophenia mentions the 1,475 hp Fiat RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone type, so it's likely that both types were considered at various stages.

 

[Apophenia]

Not being an engine buff, I couldn't say if the Alfa 150 engine which can be seen in the following pictures is the same or similar to the Alfa R.A.1000 R.C.44 which is said to have powered the sole Caproni-Vizzola F.5 bis but I should think this was an alternate engine installation:

Alfa 150 was Alfa Romeo's internal, corporate designation. R.A.1000 was applied by the Ministero dell'aeronautica (IIRC).

For the rest, I'm so glad that you decided to collect all of these auction images while they were available and repost them here for posterity. Well done!

Among the many appreciated gems, it was great to see confirmation that the F.5 Gamma was also proposed as a 2-seater.

BTW: I got that reference to Fiat RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone for the F.7 from Skybolt. (Others have even claimed a DB 603 for the F.7.) But Marco had also mentioned an all-wooden F.7 light fighter powered by an IF Delta - as now positively confirmed by your posted drawings. Nice!

 

[tomo pauk]

Thank you for posting this amazing stuff

 

[Airborne2001]

Absolutely incredible, thank you.

Last fighter of the "F" series was the Caproni-Vizzola F.7M (again, "M" for "metal"), a variant with stretched fuselage that was never built. According to these documents, it was to be powered by an Isotta-Fraschini Delta R.C.45 I engine,. Apophenia mentions the 1,475 hp Fiat RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone type, so it's likely that both types were considered at various stages.

Finally we can see the F.7! What a large propeller for an engine of that power rating, though they were keeping it to a two bladed configuration.

 

[Skyraider3D]

Amazing drawings!
Thanks very much for posting these. They will help me with my 1/48 Vespa F.6M kit.