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Caudron G.6

1917 WORLD WAR 1

Caudron G. 6 Stories

French aviation group Caudron further developed its G-series reconnaissance biplanes during the First World War (1914-1918). 1913-1914 G. 3 evolved from the original pre-war G.. 2 appeared, which also gave rise to G.4 in 1915 (described in detail elsewhere on this page). The G. 6 model followed, retaining the G. 4's recognizable twin-engine layout and biplane wing arrangement (the upper wings span more than the lower ones to reduce drag between cells), and the two-seat cockpit nacelle in the middle , but added a more traditional tail and a more defined fuselage shape.

Gone are the hollowed-out, exposed tail booms of the original, replaced by a tubular fuselage with a full fin mounted with a vertical fin and applicable horizontal surfaces. The main wing maintains a two-cabin layout, and each assembly also has its own engine nacelle, which drives the twin-bladed propeller unit.

The nose section is more streamlined for aerodynamic efficiency. The landing gear has the bipedal four-wheeled tradition of the early Caudron aircraft.

The G.6 owes its design to Paul Deville and made its first flight in 1916. The aircraft entered service in 1917 and served as a reconnaissance platform until the final months of the war.

Additional service saw lines for artillery targeting roles to improve the overall accuracy of ground artillery personnel. In addition to the heavier, slower bomber types, the G.6 was pushed into the role of fighter escort, where it found success. About 512 Caudron G. 6 aircraft were built, dedicated to the French Air Service ("Armee de l'Air"), with an impressive 40 squadrons. For three months in 1916 alone, the G. 6 crew from Escadrille Caudron No.

46 had as many as 34 German aircraft - a remarkable feat for this forgotten line of planes.

The G.6 has two crew members - a pilot and an observer - sitting side by side above the open air cockpit. The aircraft is equipped with two 130-horsepower Le Rhone 9Jb engines, each capable of a top speed of 96 mph, a service ceiling of 15,500 feet, and a rate of climb of nearly 865 feet per minute.

With a mission duration of up to 2.5 hours, the aircraft has good legs in the European theater of operations.

By this stage of the war, Caudron aircraft were moderately armed for both offensive engagement and defensive operations. 1 or 2 x 0.303 Lewis machine guns were placed on a trainable stand in the rear cockpit for the observer to operate.

The guns provide a range around the aircraft's critical "six" quadrant, the area behind the aircraft that is most vulnerable to interceptor aircraft. The G. 6 series was also allowed to carry up to 200 pounds of externally thrown weapons - capable of engaging ground targets if the crew spotted them.

Of course, such bombing raids typically occurred at low altitudes, exposing both crews and aircraft to dangerous ground fire.

Caudron continued her work in biplanes throughout the war. In 1918, the French introduced the Caudron R. 11, which had a similarly rounded, streamlined fuselage, single tail and biplane wings and was used as a reconnaissance platform, light bomber, and escort fighter??.

Caudron produced over 4,000 aircraft for World War I. It was later brought under the Renault umbrella in 1933.