Flown in 1914, the Ca 20 was armed with a machine gun placed above the pilot and the propeller disc, and it does look like a harbinger of the fighter aircraft. Only this prototype was built, however. The Ca 20 was largely forgotten, although it was shown at an exposition in Rome in 1936.

In truth I only went up to the Museum of Flight's Personal Courage Wing as there were too many people about everywhere else. Usually early aviation is low on my priority list but now I'm really happy to have spent time there. This Ca.20 is recognised as the world's first fighter and was stored by the Caproni family in a monastery for 85 years before being dismantled and transported to Seattle. A real piece of aviation history, amongst many, at the fantastic Museum of Flight!