Caudron C.61

C.61
General information
Type	transport
Manufacturer	Caudron
Status	Retired
History
First flight	1921

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.

Development

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

C.61 of CFRNA featured on a Romanian stamp

In 1923, six C.61s were bought by Compagnie Franco-Roumaine de Navigation Aérienne (CFRNA) to run between Bucharest and Belgrade.

Variants

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

• Compagnie Franco-Roumaine de Navigation Aérienne/Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne ^[1]

Specifications (C.61)

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

• 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

Citations

1. Stroud 1966 , pp. 84–87
2. Stroud 1966, pp. 84–85
3. "Accidents by Airline" . Retrieved 2007-09-14.

Bibliography

• 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.