Caudron

A Caudron seaplane, being hoisted onboard La Foudre in April 1914

The Société des Avions Caudron was a French aircraft company founded in 1909 by brothers Gaston Caudron (1882-1915) and René Caudron (1884-1959). It was one of the earliest aircraft manufacturers in France and produced planes for the military in both World War I and World War II.

Alphonse (Gaston) (1882-1915) and René Caudron (1884-1959)

Born in Favières, Somme to parents who farmed nearby in Romiotte, the Caudron brothers were educated at a college in Abbeville. Gaston, as Adolphe was always known, intended to become an engineer but his education was cut short by health problems; René was interested in the development of mechanics and was a sportsman. After military service in a artillery regiment they returned to work on the farm.^[1]

They began to build their first aircraft, a large biplane, in August 1908. Initially unable to obtain an engine, they flew it as a glider, towed by a horse and tested it through the summer. In September 1909 they finally flew it under power. By April 1910 they were able to make an out and return flight of 10 km (6 mi) to Forest-Montiers.^[1]

They soon became famous aviators, reaching the same level of celebrity that people like Marcel Dassault or Henry Potez had acquired before them.

Gaston Caudron died in an aircraft accident on 15 December 1915 at the airfield at Bron.^[2] René continued in the aircraft business until the fall of France at the start of World War II. He died in 1959.^[3]

Caudron Fréres

Needing a more convenient base than the farm, the brothers established their factory in nearby Le Crotoy, on the eastern side of the Somme estuary about 16 km (10 mi) from Abbeville and with a broad, flat, firm, south facing beach ideal for flying. They set up a flying school there^[1] which was functioning by 19 May 1910.^[4] This activity flourished and by early 1913 a second school had been set up at Juvisy with a combined capacity of 100-250.^[5] The War Ministry sent about 30 student pilots there in 1913. By then the company was based at Rue, Somme.^[5]

Designers of many aircraft like the two-seater Caudron G.3 that successfully landed on Mont Blanc in 1921, Caudron produced the trainers in which thousands of pilots got their first flying licence. The Caudron factory at Lyon produced nearly 4,000 airplanes during World War 1, before being acquired by Renault in 1933.

Aircraft

(Gaston et René Caudron / Société des avions Caudron)

Hydroaéroplane Caudron-Fabre[6] Caudron Type A Caudron Type B.2 Caudron Type C Caudron Type D Caudron Type E Caudron Type F Caudron Type G[7] Caudron G.2 Caudron G.3 Caudron G.4 Caudron G.6 Caudron Type H[8] Caudron Type J Caudron Type K Caudron Type L Caudron Type M Caudron Type N Caudron Type O Caudron Type P[1] Caudron R[9] Caudron R.3[1] Caudron R.3[1] Caudron R.4 Caudron R.5[1] Caudron R.6 Caudron R.8 Caudron R.9[1] Caudron R.10[1] Caudron R.11 Caudron R.12 Caudron R.14 Caudron R.15 Caudron R.19 Caudron C.02 Caudron C.20 Caudron C.21 Caudron C.22 Caudron C.23 Caudron C.25 Caudron C.27 Caudron C.33 Caudron C.37 Caudron C.39 Caudron C.43 Caudron C.51[1] Caudron C.59 Caudron C.60 Caudron C.61 Caudron C.61bis Caudron C.65 Caudron C.66 Caudron C.67 Caudron C.68 Caudron C.74 Caudron C.77 Caudron C.81 Caudron C.91 Caudron C.92 Caudron C.97 Caudron C.98 Caudron C.99 Caudron C.101 Caudron C.103 Caudron C.104 Caudron C.107 Caudron C.109 Caudron C.110 Caudron C.113 Caudron C.117

Caudron C.125 Caudron C.127 Caudron C.128 Caudron C.128/2 Caudron C.140 Caudron C.150 Caudron C.157[10] Caudron C.159[11] Caudron C.160 Caudron C.161 Caudron C.168 Caudron C.180 Caudron C.183 Caudron C.190 Caudron C.191 Caudron C.192 Caudron C.193 Caudron C.220 Caudron C.221 Caudron C.230 Caudron C.232 Caudron C.240 Caudron C.250 Caudron C.251 Caudron C.270 Luciole Caudron C.272 Luciole Caudron C.272/2 Luciole Caudron C.272/3 Luciole Caudron C.272/4 Luciole Caudron C.272/5 Luciole Caudron C.273 Luciole Caudron C.275 Luciole Caudron C.280 Phalene Caudron C.280/2 Phalene Caudron C.280/6 Phalene Caudron C.280/9 Phalene Caudron C.282 Super Phalene Caudron C.282/4 Super Phalene Caudron C.282/8 Super Phalene Caudron C.282/10 Super Phalene Caudron C.286 Super Phalene Caudron C.286/2 Super Phalene Caudron C.286/2.S4 Super Phalene Caudron C.286/4 Super Phalene Caudron C.286/5 Super Phalene Caudron C.286/6 Super Phalene Caudron C.286/7 Super Phalene Caudron C.286/8 Super Phalene Caudron C.286/9 Super Phalene Caudron C.289 Super Phalene Caudron C.289/2 Super Phalene Caudron C.340 Miero Phalene' (sic) - should be Micro Phalene Caudron C.344 Phalène Junior Caudron C.360[12] Caudron C.362 Caudron C.366 Caudron C.400Super Phalene Caudron C.401Super Phalene Caudron C.410Super Phalene Caudron C.430 Rafale Caudron C.440 Goéland Caudron C.441 Goéland Caudron C.444 Goéland Caudron C.445 Goéland Caudron C.445/1 Goéland

Caudron C.445/2 Goéland Caudron C.445/3 Goéland Caudron C.445M Goéland Caudron C.445R Goéland Caudron C.446 Super Goéland Caudron C.447 Goéland Caudron C.448 Goéland Caudron C.449 Goéland Caudron C.449/1 Goéland Caudron C.449/2 Goéland Caudron C.449/3 Goéland Caudron C.449/4 Goéland Caudron C.449/5 Goéland Caudron C.450 Caudron C.460 Caudron C.461 Caudron C.480 Frégate Caudron C.490[13] Caudron C.491[14] Caudron C.500 Simoun I Caudron C.510 Pélican Caudron C.520 Simoun Caudron C.530 Rafale[15] Caudron C.560 Caudron C.561[16] Caudron C.570 Caudron C.580[17] Caudron C.600 Aiglon Caudron C.601 Aiglon Caudron C.610 Aiglon Caudron C.620 Simoun IV Caudron C.630 Simoun Caudron C.631 Simoun Caudron C.632 Simoun Caudron C.634 Simoun Caudron C.635 Simoun Caudron C.635M Simoun Caudron C.640 Typhon Caudron C.641 Typhon Caudron C.660 Rafale[18] Caudron C.670 Typhon Caudron C.680[19] Caudron C.684[20] Caudron C.685 Super Rafale[21] Caudron C.690 Caudron C.710 Cyclone Caudron C.711 Cyclone Caudron C.712 Cyclone Caudron C.713 Cyclone Caudron C.714 Cyclone Caudron C.720 Cyclone Caudron-Renault CR.760 Cyclone Caudron-Renault CR.770 Cyclone Caudron C.800 Epervier Caudron C.801 Caudron C.810 Caudron C.811 Caudron C-815 Caudron C.860 Caudron C.870[22] Caudron C.880[23] Caudron KXC Caudron Navy Experimental Type C Trainer Caudron LEI

References

1. Hauet, André (2001). Les Avions Caudrons. 1. Outreau: Lela Presse. ISBN 2 914017-08-1.
2. "Nécrologie - Gaston Caudron". L'Aérophile. Vol. 23 no. 24. 1–15 December 1915. p. 275.
3. "René Caudron". Flight. Vol. 76 no. 2639. 9 October 1959. p. 346.
4. "Au jour le jour un peu partout (Daily everywhere)". L'Aérophile. Vol. 1910. 1 June 1910. p. 242.
5. Jane, Fred T. (1969). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1913. London: David & Charles. p. 86. ISBN 0 7153 4388 2.
6. "Hydroaéroplane Caudron-Fabre". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
7. "Caudron Type G". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
8. "Caudron Type H". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
9. "Caudron Type R". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
10. "Caudron C.157". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
11. "Caudron C.159". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
12. "Le Biplace de Sport Caudron C.430". l'Aérophile: 114. April 1934.
13. "Caudron C.490". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
14. "Caudron C.491". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
15. "Caudron C.530". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
16. "Caudron C.561". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
17. "Caudron C.580". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
18. "Caudron C.660". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
19. "Caudron C.680". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
20. "Caudron C.684". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
21. "Caudron C.685". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
22. "Caudron C.870". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
23. "Caudron C.880". Aviafrance.com. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2011.

External links

• Aviation Pioneers: An Anthology - Gaston & René Caudron
• Caudron C.460 at air-racing-history.com
• Aviafrance list of Caudron aircraft
• La société des Frères Caudron