J.Davilla Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.2: Aircraft A-H (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 74)

Bobba Monoplanes

  The Aero Club of Italy hoped to play an important role in initiating the manufacture of aircraft designed to meet military requirements. Previously operational aircraft had been adapted from civilian models. The organization arranged for two separate competitions: one for the supply of 28 Bristol Coandas and one for “the formation of two squadrons for experimentation: one with seven original Italian monoplanes, the other with seven original Italian biplanes.” Following this there was to be a third competition, which included a prize of 100,000 pounds and a “possible” order for 10 (1st place winner) and 5 (second place) aircraft.
  The specifications called for a range of 300 km with pilot and observer, a speed of 80 km/h, climb to 500 m in 15 minutes, and undercarriage which would enable landings on plowed fields or meadows, rapid disassembly for road and rail transport, bomb load of 40 kg of bombs and instruments (altimeter, compass, clock, tachometer, inclinometer, gauges for oil and fuel, and a paper cassette for navigational maps).
  Of the 32 participants enrolled, only 23 were actually presented in the field of Mirafiori on 1 April 1913.
  The Bobba monoplane appears to have drawn its inspiration from the Nieuport 4. It was a monoplane supported by extensive wire rigging. The wires were attached to a pyramid shaped nest of struts above the fuselage and a simpler “V” shaped strut underneath the fuselage. The crew of two sat in a cockpit tub beneath the upper struts. There was a two bladed propeller; the landing gear shared a single axle.
  When the tests of of the two competitions had been completed, only the two Bobbas, the SIA-Gnome, and a SAML were accepted for the final testing which included a climb to 1,000 m in less than 40 min and 300 km range. Testing was carried out after 9 May because of bad weather.
  The competition took place, assisted by Aero Club of Italy, on the route Turin-Milan-Turin-Casale which was followed by a circuit Turin-Chivasso to compute the maximum range. Giuseppe Rossi on the Bobba completed the lap in 3 h 5 min, followed by Stoffer in the SAML in 4h 5min, while Cesare Bobba in the Bobba on landed Serralunga Crea and Deroye on the SIA finished at Romano di Lombardia.
  Despite this victory, the Bobba, a copy of which was taken in charge by the Technical Section at Mirafiori until 1918, was never assigned to the Aviation Battalion. Therefore, the contest had no practical outcome for Italian military aviation.
  For several of the companies, this was their end of their foray into aircraft production. The real winner was Caproni whose Caproni Vizzola Ticino became the state workshop for the military.


Bobba Monoplanes with One 80-hp Gnome-Rhone Engine
  Wingspan 12.80 m; length 8.00 m; wing area 26 sq m
  Empty weight 850 kg;
  Endurance 4 hours
  Two built; one obtained by the Technical Section at Mirafiori