Caudron C.600 Aiglon

The Caudron C.600 Aiglon (Eaglet) light touring monoplane was the work of the outstanding French aircraft designer of the 1930s, Marcel Riffard. He had taken over the design department of the newly amalgamated Caudron and Renault combine at the end of 1933.

The first of two prototypes made its maiden flight at Issy-les-Moulineaux in March 1935. A low-wing cantilever monoplane with tandem open cockpits, it had the excellent aerodynamic qualities that became associated with all Riffard designs. The Aiglon proved itself with a number of outstanding flights. Andre Japy flew a single-seat C.610 version from Paris to Saigon between 12 and 16 December 1935 at an average speed of 128km/h. The type was especially popular with French women fliers: Mesdames Dupeyron and Lion flew an Aiglon to establish new women's straight-line distance records in 1937 and 1938, while Suzanne Kohn flew her Aiglon from France to Madagascar in 1939.

Construction was entirely of wood, except for fabric covering of the rudder and elevators, the monoplane wing including wide-span trailing-edge flaps. The main units of the non-retractable tail-wheel landing gear incorporated oleo-pneumatic struts, had differential brakes and housed the main wheels in speed fairings. Two baggage compartments were located in front of the forward (passenger's) cockpit. There were variations in the shape of the fin and rudder, three distinct types being used.

Total production of the Aiglon was 203, some being fitted with continuous glazed canopies over the cockpits. The type was particularly popular with French private owners and flying clubs. A number were sold abroad, 14 being exported to Spain, two to Argentina and one to Japan. With the outbreak of war in 1939 many Aiglons were requisitioned by the French government and used as liaison aircraft by the Armee de I'Air. Some 178 of the basic C.600 Aiglon were completed, each powered by a 75kW Renault 4Pgi Bengali Junior.

lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024 A-H. MIllet

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