Orlik 098 Caproni Stipa

The Stipa-Caproni was an Italian experimental aircraft in a mixed monoplane design with a fixed undercarriage. The drive was provided by a single de Havaillan Gipsy III engine with a power of 120 HP . The prototype flight took place in 1932. It was the only copy of this very unusual plane. The machine did not have a fixed armament.

Stipa-Caproni was created on the initiative of the Italian aircraft constructor Luigi Stip. He used a completely avant-garde solution in his plane - he placed a piston engine with a propeller inside the fuselage of the plane in the shape of a cylinder, and a small pilot's cabin at the top. The result is an airplane that looks like a flying barrel! Despite the unusual design, the experimental flights on the Stipa-Caproni confirmed many of its constructor's assumptions: first of all, the placement of the engine, together with the propeller, inside the fuselage improved its efficiency and effectiveness. The Stipa-Caproni also had a very low landing speed and a good climb rate. The big disadvantage of the design was a lot of aerodynamic drag and low maneuverability. Despite the fact that the Italian military aviation was not interested in developing the structure, the aircraft itself, as well as the observations made during its flights, were used in the development of jet-powered aircraft.