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 Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Term ...

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

In 1923, six C.61s were bought by Compagnie Franco-Roumaine de Navigation Aérienne to run between

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...

and Belgrade.

Variants

;C.61: Initial production variant. ;C.61bis: In 1924 many C.61s were modified to take Salmson CM.9 radial engines outboard, increasing the maximum loaded weight to . ;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

Specifications (C.61)

Accidents

*after 1923 (date unknown) - C.61 lost when it came down at sea *July 3, 1926 - C.61 operated by Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne crashes in Czechoslovakia

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * {{Caudron aircraft 1920s French airliners C.061 Biplanes Trimotors