Caudron Type O

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Type O
The Caudron O at the 1914 Fete d'Aviation, held at the Longchamps racecourse, Paris
Role Sports aircraft
National origin France
Manufacturer Caudron
Designer Gaston Caudron
First flight January–February 1914
Number built 1

The Caudron Type O was a French single seat air racing biplane first flown in 1914.

Development

The Type O was a

flying wires braced the bays. The Type O used wing warping rather than ailerons for lateral control.[1]

When it first flew in the early weeks of 1914, it was powered by a semi-cowled Anzani 6-cylinder radial.[2] There were two versions of this engine with different displacements; l'Aérophile states a power output of 45 hp (34 kW),[1] corresponding to the smaller version, but Hauet quotes 50–60 hp (37–45 kW),[2] that of the larger engine. By May 1914 it was flying with an uncowled 100 hp (75 kW) Anzani 10-cylinder radial.[2]

The fuselage was recycled from one of Caudron's earlier

elevator cut-out. Later in the year, the aircraft, now with the 100 hp Anzani and a modified upper forward fuselage, had a very different tail with a larger fin which had a long, curving leading edge, its contour continuing into that of a broad, deep rudder. There may also have been wing modifications as well; l'Aéroplane describes the upper and lower wings as having the same span, whereas in Hauet's account the span of the upper wing was the greater.[2]

The Type O had an all-steel tailskid undercarriage, with a pair of spoked mainwheels on split axles hinged from the centre of a transverse rod mounted on four longitudinal V-struts, arranged as an inverted W from the inner, under-fuselage interplane struts. Rubber springs damped the movement of the outer ends and wheels on landing.[1]

Operational history

Early in its life the Type O acquired the nickname of "The soap box". In May 1914, re-engined and with its new tail, it was flown by Chanteloup in a race at the Bois de Boulogne; in June it flew in Vienna. In September, a month after the outbreak of World War I, it was delivered to the military.[2]

Specifications (100 hp Anzani)

Data from Hauet (2001)[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in) ; l'Aérophile[1] gives 7 m (23 ft 0 in)
  • Upper wingspan: 7.40 m (24 ft 3 in)
  • Lower wingspan: 6.80 m (22 ft 4 in)
  • Height: 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 14.50 m2 (156.1 sq ft) [1]
  • Powerplant: 1 × Anzani two row, 10-cylinder radial, 75 kW (100 hp)
  • Propellers: two-bladed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 146 km/h (91 mph, 79 kn) [1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Le biplane de Course "Caudron"". L'Aérophile. Vol. 22, no. 15. 1 August 1914. pp. 343–345.
  2. ^
    ISBN 2 914017-08-1
    .
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caudron_Type_O&oldid=1067613876"