Caudron Type O

An unequal-span single-bay single-seat biplane designed by Paul Deville in 1917 for the high-altitude fighter role, the Caudron Type O (all Caudron types were initially assigned letter-type designations in sequence) was originally flown with a 120hp Le Rhone nine-cylinder air-cooled rotary although designed for the 150hp Gnome Monosoupape 9N or 170hp Le Rhone 9R rotaries. Examples fitted with the higher-powered engines were flown during the spring of 1918. Armament comprised either one or two 7.7mm Vickers machine guns and the aerofoil employed for the wings was of special flat section and was expected to enable the fighter to reach altitudes of the order of 9000m. Only prototypes were completed.