Caudron Aiglon

The Caudron C.600 Aiglon was a 1930s French two-seat monoplane sport/touring aircraft built by Caudron-Renault.

Development

The Aiglon (en: Eaglet) was designed by Marcel Riffard after he took over the design department when Caudron merged with Renault. The Aiglon was a two-seat low-wing cantilever monoplane with tandem open cockpits. The first of two prototypes first flew in March 1935 from Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. Two special long-distance versions (the C.610 Aiglon) were built with an increased fuel capacity. In December 1935 a C.610 was flown from Paris to Saigon at an average speed of 80 mph (129 km/h).

The type was popular with French private owners and flying clubs, and a number were sold abroad. With the outbreak of the Second World War many of the aircraft were requistioned by the French Government for use as liaision aircraft by the Armée de l'Air. Total production of the Aiglon was 203 aircraft, including 178 of the basic Renault 4Pgi Bengali Junior powered model.

Variants

• C.600 Aiglon - production model with a Renault 4Pgi Bengali Junior engine, 178 built.
• C.600G Aiglon - modified version with a de Havilland Gipsy Major engine, 5 built.
• C.601 Aiglon Senior - modified version with a Renault 4Pei engine, 18 built.
• C.610 Aiglon - special long-distance single-seat version with increased fuel, 2 built.
• Caudron KXC1 - A C.601 exported to Japan for evaluation by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.

Operators

The aircraft was operated by flying clubs, private individuals and a few air forces:

 Argentina

 France

• French Air Force

 Japan

• Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service, one example evaluated under designation KXC

 Spain

• Spanish Republican Air Force

Specifications (C.600)

General characteristics

• Length: 27 ft 11½ in (8.52 m)
• Wingspan: 38 ft 9¼ in (11.82m)
• Height: 9 ft 5 3/4 in (2.89m)
• Wing area: 156.19 ft² (14.51 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,235 lb (560 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,940 lb (880 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Renault 4Pgi Bengali Junior inline piston engine, 100 hp (75 kw)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 137 mph (220 km/h)
• Range: 435 miles (700 km)

References

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.