Caudron G.3

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G.3
Caudron G.3 replica, displayed in "Museo del Aire", Cuatro Vientos, Madrid, Spain
Type	Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer	Caudron
Primary users	French Air Force US Army Air Service Finnish Air Force Polish Air Force
Developed from	Caudron G.2

The Caudron G.3 was a single engined French biplane built by Caudron. The G.3 was in widespread use during WWI as a reconnaissance aircraft and trainer. In comparison to its competitors, it had a better rate of climb and it was considered especially suitable in mountaneous terrain^{[citation needed]}.

Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Versions 4 Survivors 5 Operators 6 Specifications (G.3) 7 References 8 Sources 9 Related content

[edit] Development

The Caudron G.3 was designed by René and Gaston Caudron as a development of the earlier Caudron G.2 for military use. It first flew in May 1914 at the Caudron brothers aerodrome at Le Crotoy^[1].

The aircraft had a short crew nacelle, with a single engine in the nose of the nacelle, and twin open tailbooms. It was of sesquiplane layout, and used wing warping for lateral control, although this was replaced by conventional ailerons fitted on the upper wing in late production aircraft.

Following the outbreak of the First World War, it was ordered in large quantities, with 1423 aircraft being built by Caudron Factories, with the type being built by several other companies, the Caudron brothers not charging any licence fee as an act of patriotism, with a total of 2450 being produced in France. ^[1] In addition, 233 machines were manufactured in Britain, and a further 166 were produced in Italy^[1].

Usually, the G.3 was not equipped with any weapons, although sometimes light, small calibre machine guns and some hand released small bombs were fitted to it.

It was followed in production by the Caudron G.4, which was a twin engined development.

[edit] Operational history

The G.3 equipped Escadrille C.11 of the French Aéronautique Militaire,at the outbreak of war, and soon proved well suited for reconnaissance use, proving tough and reliable. As the war went on however, its low performance and the fact that it was unarmed made it vulnerable in front line service, and so the French withdrew it from front line operations in mid-1916.^[1] The Italians also used the G.3 for reconnaissance on a wide scale until 1917, as did the RFC (continuing operations until October 1917),who also fitted some with light bombs and machine guns for ground attack^[1].

It continued in use after ceasing combat operations as a trainer until after the end of the war.

[edit] Versions

The majority of the G.3s were of the A.2 model. This model was used by various airforces for fire spotting on the West front, in Russia and in the Middle East. G.3 D.2 was a two-seated trainer aircraft, equipped with dual controls and the E.2 was a basic trainer. The R.1 version, which had been developed from the basic version was used by France and by the USA for taxi training, with fabric removed from large areas of the wing to prevent it becoming airborne. The last version, the G.3.12, was equipped with a more powerful 100 hp Anzani radial engine.

[edit] Survivors

Caudron G.3s are on display at a number of museums, including at the RAF Museum Hendon, the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Paris and the Royal Army and Military History Museum, Brussels. One aircraft (1E.18) is currently being repaired at the Hallinportti Aviation Museum.

[edit] Operators

•  Argentina
•  Belgium
•  China
•  Finland: The Finnish Air Force purchased twelve aircraft from France in 1920. Six of these were built in Finland by Santahaminan ilmailutelakka (today a part of Patria Aviation) between 1921 - 1923. Two aircraft, and spares, were purchased from Flyg Aktiebolaget on April 26, 1923 (production numbers 6 and 4396) together with a Caudron G.4 for 100,000 Finnish markka. The aircraft was easy to fly and repair and thus very suitable as a trainer. The ones that were constructed in Finland had worse flying characteristics than the original ones, due to a bad wing profile. The FAF used a total of 19 Caudron G.3 aircraft, who carried the designation codes 2A.490 - 2A.495, later 1B.1 - 1B.7 and 1D.8 - 1D.12, the ones constructed in Finland 1D.12 and 1E.14 - 1E.18 and the one purchased from Flyg Aktiebolaget 1B.19. The aircraft was called Tutankhamon in Finland. The G.3 was used by the FAF between 1920-1924.
•  France
•  Italy
•  Poland
•  Romania
• Kingdom of Spain: Spain purchased eighteen Caudron G.3 in June 1919. They were posted in flight schools in Getafe, Seville and Los Alcázares. These planes remained in service until they were substituted for Avro 504 K in 1924.
•  United Kingdom
•  United States

[edit] Specifications (G.3)

Data from Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneet

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 6.40 m (21 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 13.40 m (44 ft 0 in)
• Height: 2.50 m (8 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 27.00 m² (290 ft²)
• Empty weight: 420 kg (930 lb)
• Loaded weight: kg (lb)
• Useful load: kg (kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 734 kg (7631 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Le Rhone C rotary, 60 kW (80 hp)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: km/h (knots, mph)
• Maximum speed: 106 km/h (57 knots, 68 mph)
• Cruise speed: km/h (knots, mph)
• Stall speed: km/h (knots, mph)
• Range: km (nm, mi, 4 h)
• Service ceiling: 4300 m ^[1] (14,110 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: W/kg (hp/lb)

Armament

One small calibre machine gun (optional) and some hand released bombs (optional)

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Donald, David (Editor) (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 1-85605-375-X. 

[edit] Sources

• Caudron G3 (airminded.net)
• RAF Museum
• [1]
• Kalevi Keskinen, Kyösti Partonen, Kari Stenman: Suomen Ilmavoimat I 1918-27, 2005. ISBN 952-99432-2-9.
• Kalevi Keskinen, Kari Stenman, Klaus Niska: Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneet 1918-1939', Tietoteos, 1976.

[edit] Related content

Related development

Caudron G.4
Caudron R.4
Caudron R.11