Evolved by Paul Deville from the R.IV reconnaissance bomber designed by Rene Caudron, the R XI three-seat biplane was originally intended as a Corps d'Armee aircraft, but was destined to find its forte as a three-seat escort fighter. Powered by two 215hp Hispano-Suiza 8Bda eight-cylinder water-cooled engines, the R XI appeared in March 1917, and entered service in February 1918. Armament comprised five 7.7mm Lewis guns on flexible mounts - two in the nose cockpit, two in the dorsal cockpit and one firing downwards and rearwards beneath the front gunner's cockpit - and while initial models retained the HS 8Bda engines, later versions were fitted with the 235hp HS 8Beb. The R XI enjoyed considerable success as an escort for the Breguet 14 during the closing months of WWI and during the summer of 1918. It also served in the fighter-reconnaissance role. At the time of the Armistice, the R XI equipped six 15-aircraft escadrilles of France's Aviation Militaire. A more powerful version, the R XII with 300hp HS 8Fb engines, was tested during the summer of 1918, but apparently failed to display significantly better results than those obtained with the R XI. Prototype trials with the R XII were completed in the autumn of 1919, but no further development was undertaken.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1670 x 1060)