Caudron C.690

The Caudron C.690 was single-seat training aircraft developed in France in the late 1930s to train fighter pilots to handle high-performance aircraft. It was a conventional low-wing cantilever monoplane that bore a strong resemblance to designer Marcel Riffard's racer designs of the same period. Caudron attempted to attract overseas sales for the aircraft, but this resulted in orders for only two machines - one from Japan, and the other from the USSR. In the meantime, the first of two prototypes was destroyed in a crash that killed René Paulhan, Caudron's chief test pilot.

Despite this, the Armée de l'Air eventually showed interest in the type, and ordered a batch of a slightly refined design. The first of these was not delivered until April 1939, and only 15 C.690Ms were supplied before the outbreak of war.

Variants

C.690

Single-seat fighter trainer aircraft. Four aircraft built.

C.690M

Slightly refined version for the Armee de l'Air. Only 15 aircraft were built.

Operators

 France

• Armee de l'Air

 Japan

• One aircraft only (KXC1) .

 Soviet Union

• One aircraft only.

Specifications (C.690M)

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Length: 7.82 m (25 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 7.70 m (25 ft 3 in)
• Height: 2.60 m (8 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 9.0 m² (97 ft²)
• Empty weight: 672 kg (1,482 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,050 kg (2,315 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Renault 6Q-05, 164 kW (220 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 370 km/h (230 mph)
• Range: 1,100 km (684 miles)
• Service ceiling: 9,700 m (31,825 ft)
• Rate of climb: 11 m/s (2,165 ft/min)

See also

Related lists

• List of Interwar military aircraft

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caudron aircraft.

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 240. 
• World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 891 Sheet 16.