The Caudron C.61 was a French three-engined civil transport biplane aircraft built by the French aeroplane manufacturer Caudron. It was constructed of wood and covered in fabric.
| C.61 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | transport |
| Manufacturer | Caudron |
| First flight | 1921 |
| Status | Retired |
Development edit
The prototype C.61 (F-ESAE) had a freight hold and cabin for six passengers. The conventional landing gear also included a wheel beneath the nose to prevent nose-overs on landing. For the production C.61s the cabin size was increased to accommodate eight passengers.
Operational history edit
In 1923, six C.61s were bought by Compagnie Franco-Roumaine de Navigation Aérienne to run between Bucharest and Belgrade.
Variants edit
- C.61
- Initial production variant.
- C.61bis
- In 1924 many C.61s were modified to take 194 kW (260 hp) Salmson CM.9 radial engines outboard, increasing the maximum loaded weight to 4,834 kg (10,657 lb).
- C.81
- 1923 trimotor airliner
- C.83
- 1924 Unbuilt trimotor project
- C.183
- 1923 trimotor airliner
Operators edit
Specifications (C.61) edit
Data from European Transport Aircraft since 1910[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 8 passengers
- Length: 14.00 m (45 ft 11 in)
- Upper wingspan: 24.14 m (79 ft 2 in)
- Lower wingspan: 20.40 m (66 ft 11 in)
- Wing area: 104 m2 (1,120 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 2,100–2,200 kg (4,630–4,850 lb)
- Gross weight: 3,480 kg (7,672 lb)
- Powerplant: 3 × Hispano-Suiza 8Ac water-cooled V-8 engines, 130 kW (180 hp) each
- Propellers: 2-bladed wooden fixed pitch propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 160 km/h (99 mph, 86 kn)
- Range: 640 km (400 mi, 350 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
- Take-off run: 166 m (545 ft)
- Landing run: 220 m (722 ft)
Accidents edit
- after 1923 (date unknown) - C.61 was lost when it came down at sea
- July 3, 1926 - C.61 operated by Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne crashes in Czechoslovakia[3]
References edit
Citations edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caudron C.61.
- ^ Stroud 1966, pp. 84–87
- ^ Stroud 1966, pp. 84–85
- ^ "Accidents by Airline". Retrieved 2007-09-14.
Bibliography edit
- Donald, David, ed. (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Prospero Books. p. 236. ISBN 1-85605375-X.
- Espérou, Robert & de Doux, Joseph (May 1983). "Les Caudron trimoteurs" [The Three-engined Caudrons]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (162): 21–26. ISSN 0757-4169.
- Kotelnikov, V.; Kulikov, V. & Cony, C. (November 2001). "Les avions français en URSS, 1921–1941" [French Aircraft in the USSR, 1921–1941]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (104): 37–43. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Stroud, John (1966). European Transport Aircraft since 1910. London: Putnam.