The Stipa-Caproni Was a Flying Barrel

The Stipa-Caproni stands out as an intriguing experiment. Conceived by the Italian aeronautical engineer Luigi Stipa and built by the Caproni aircraft company in the 1930s, this aircraft was a testament to innovation and unconventional design. Often referred to as the “flying barrel,” it was not only a product of its time but also a precursor to technologies that would later become commonplace in the aviation industry. Contents The Intubed Propeller? Luigi Stipa’s central concept was the “intubed propeller.” He theorised that enclosing an aircraft’s propeller within a tubular fuselage could significantly enhance its efficiency. The primary mechanism behind this … Continue reading The Stipa-Caproni Was a Flying Barrel