Caudron G.3

Caudron G.3 replica, displayed in "Museo del Aire", Cuatro Vientos, Madrid, Spain

Caudron G.3 was a French biplane with a single engine. The G.3 was in widespread use during WWI as a reconnaissance aircraft. It had been designed by René and Gaston Caudron from the Caudron G.2 and would be followed by the Caudron G.4. In comparison to its competators, it had a better rate of climb and it was considered especially suitable in mountaneous terrain. The fuselage was only covered with canvas from the front to behind the pilot, while the tail section was open The first G.3 was manufactured in May 1914.

The Caudron C.60 was used in Argentina, Belgium, China, France, Finland, Poland, Romania, Spain, and in the United States.

Versions

The majority of the G.3s were of the A.2 model. This model was used by various airforces for fire spotting on the West front, in Russia and in the Middle East. G.3 D.2 was a two-seated trainer aircraft, equipped with dual sticks and the E.2 was a basic trainer. The R.1 version, which had been developed from the basic version was used by France and by USA. The last version, the G.3.12, was equipped with a more powerful 100 hp Anzani engine.

Armament

Usually, the G.3 was not equipped with any weapons, although sometimes light, small calibre machine guns and some hand released small bombs were fitted to it.

Use in Finland

The Finnish Air Force purchased twelve aircraft from France in 1920. Six of these were built in Finland by Santahaminan ilmailutelakka (today a part of Patria Aviation) between 1921 - 1923. Two aircraft, and spares, were purchased from Flyg Aktiebolaget on April 26, 1923 (production numbers 6 and 4396) together with a Caudron G.4 for 100,000 Finnish markka. The aircraft was easy to fly and repair and thus very suitable as a trainer. The ones that were constructed in Finland had worse flying characteristics than the original ones, due to a bad wing profile. The FAF used a toal of 19 Caudron G.3 aircraft, who carried the designation codes 2A.490 - 2A.495, later 1B.1 - 1B.7 and 1D.8 - 1D.12, the ones constructed in Finland 1D.12 and 1E.14 - 1E.18 and the one purchased from Flyg Aktiebolaget 1B.19. The aircraft was called Tutankhamon in Finland.

The G.3 was used by the FAF between 1920 - 1924.

Use in Spain

Spain purchased eighteen Caudron G.3 in June 1919. They were posted in flight schools in Getafe, Seville and Los Alcázares. These planes remained in service until they were substituted for Avro 504 K in 1924.

Museum aircraft

One aircraft (1E.18) is currently being repaired at the Hallinportti Aviation Museum.

Specifications (G.3)

Data from Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneet

General characteristics

• Crew: 1

Performance

Sources

• [1]
• Kalevi Keskinen, Kyösti Partonen, Kari Stenman: Suomen Ilmavoimat I 1918-27, 2005. ISBN 952-99432-2-9.
• Kalevi Keskinen, Kari Stenman, Klaus Niska: Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneet 1918-1939', Tietoteos, 1976.