Caudron Type A
Caudron Type A | |
---|---|
Caudron Type A No 1. First powered aircraft made by the Caudron brothers. | |
Role | Experimental aircraft |
National origin | France |
Manufacturer | Caudron |
Designer | René Caudron
|
First flight | 1910 |
Number built | 7 |
The Caudron Type A was the first successful aircraft built by
Design and development
The Caudron brothers began aviation experimentation in 1908, building a large biplane which they intended to power using a pair of 30 hp (22 kW) Farcot engines. However the engines were never delivered, and instead it was flown by René as a glider, being towed into the air by a horse.[1]
This experiment was followed by the Caudron Type A No.1 which was a two-bay equal
Type A No.2 was the second aircraft built differing in having the engine mounted in a mid-gap position in front of the pilot driving a tractor configured propeller and in having interplane ailerons located between the upper and lower wings for lateral control.[1]
The Type A bis was a larger two-seat airframe with a five-cylinder Anzani engine of 45 hp (34 kW).[1]
Variants
- Type A No.1
- First prototype with wing warping and pusher propeller. One built.
- Type A No.2
- Tractor propeller and mid-span ailerons. Three built.
- Type A bis
- Two seat version. Three built.
Specifications (Type A)
Data from Munson 1969, p.75.
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 8 m (26 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 8 m (26 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 22 m2 (240 sq ft)
- Gross weight: 270 kg (595 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Anzani 5-cylinder air cooled semi-radial, 34 kW (45 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed Normale
Performance
- Maximum speed: 85 km/h (53 mph, 46 kn)
References
- Munson, Kenneth. Pioneer Aircraft 1903–1914. London: Blandford 1969.
- Opdycke, L. French Aeroplanes before the Great War. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 1999
External links
- "The S.A.F.A. Biplane", Flight, 31 December 1910
- Caudron A