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The Campini-Caproni CC-2 aircraft |
One of the World's Earliest
Jets
Not everybody really knows that Italy was the world's second
country to launch a jet after Germany. That jet was the Campini-Caproni CC-2, of
which the Milan Museum of Science houses the fuselage for static tests, and the
engine. A complete aircraft of this type is preserved at the Aeronautical Museum
of Vigna di Valle in the Rome area.
The CC-2 aircraft undergoing
a ground test
The CC-2 Aircraft
Flies!
On 27 August, 1940, the first prototype was tested
for 10 minutes over the Taliedo airfield by the great pilot, Mario De Bernardi.
On 16 September that same year it was flown for another 5 minutes, thus
undergoing the acceptance flight test in order that the second prototype was
upgraded. The latter made its maiden flight on 11 April, 1941. On 30 November,
1941, at 2:47 pm, Mario De Bernardi and Ing. Giovanni Pedace flew the second
prototype on an official flight from the airport of Milan Linate and that of
Rome Guidonia. After flying over Pisa, they landed at 4:58 pm after covering
475.554 km at the average speed of 217.147 km/h. According to the pilot's wish,
the afterburner was never actuated in order to save fuel.
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The Caproni aircraft undergoing an acceptance flight test |