| CASA III | |
|---|---|
| |
| The rear of M-CMAM the Gipsy-powered third aircraft | |
| Role | Two-seat trainer monoplane
Type of aircraft
|
| National origin | Spain |
| Manufacturer | Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA |
| Designer | Luis Sousa Peco |
| First flight | 2 July 1929 |
| Number built | 9 |
The CASA III was a 1920s Spanish two-seat monoplane, designed by Luis Sousa Peco and built by Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA) at Getafe near Madrid.[1]
In 1929 using experience from the production of licence-built aircraft the company built the CASA III. It was originally designed as a light bomber monoplane for the Aeronáutica Naval air arm of the Spanish Navy, but since its performance was poor the prototypes were used as touring aircraft, ending up as trainersatPollensa´s Naval Air School.
The CASA III was a parasol wing monoplane with a fabric-covered steel tube fuselage. It had two tandem open cockpits and wide track fixed conventional landing gear with a tail skid.[1] The wings were hinged at the rear spar and they could be folded for storage or transport.[1]
The M-CAGG registered prototype first flew on 2 July 1929 and was powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Cirrus III piston engine.[1] Within a few weeks the aircraft took part in a handicap air race between Madrid and Burgos and on 25 December 1929 it became the first light aircraft to land in the Canary Islands.[1] The second aircraft was fitted with a 100 hp (75 kW) Isotta Fraschini Asso 80A engine but it was not a success. In 1930 three CASA III aircraft entered the 1930 Aerial Tour of Europe, but only two actually competed; the prototype which retired with a broken landing gear, and the de Havilland Gipsy I powered third-aircraft (M-CMAM) which arrived too late for the start although it completed the course.[1] A total of nine aircraft were built, all with different engines, including the de Havilland Gipsy III and the Elizalde A6 radial engine.[1] The last aircraft built was delivered to the Spanish Navy.[1]
Suitable power plants included:- de Havilland Gipsy I, de Havilland Gipsy II, de Havilland Gipsy III, Isotta Fraschini Asso 80 R., Lorraine 5P, Walter Venus and Elizalde D V.[2][3]
During the Spanish Civil War all the remaining CASA IIIs were operated by the Republican forces and none of them survived.[1]
Spain (Kingdom)
SpainData from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931[2]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
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CASA aircraft
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| Fixed-wing aircraft |
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| People | |
