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Caudron

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Caudron, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 9 August 2025
Société des Avions Caudron
Company typeSubsidiary (from 1933)
IndustryAerospace, Aircraft manufacturing
PredecessorAssociation Aéroplanes Caudron Frères
Founded1909; 117 years ago (1909)
FounderGaston Caudron, René Caudron
Defunct1944 (1944)
FateNationalized into Société Nationale de Construction aéronautique du Centre
SuccessorSociété Nationale de Construction aéronautique du Centre
Headquarters
Issy-les-Moulineaux (after WWI)
,
France
Area served
France, military aviation sectors
Key people
Gaston Caudron, René Caudron, François Lehideux, Marcel Riffard
ProductsMilitary and civilian aircraft, trainer aircraft, racing monoplanes
OwnerRenault (majority share from 1933; fully absorbed by 1937)
ParentRenault (from 1933 to 1938)

The Société des Avions Caudron was a pioneering French aircraft manufacturer established in 1909, originally named the Association Aéroplanes Caudron Frères by siblings Gaston and René Caudron. As one of the earliest aviation firms in France, it produced military aircraft during both World War I and World War II. Starting in 1933, the company functioned as a subsidiary under Renault.

Alphonse (Gaston) (1882–1915) and René Caudron (1884–1959)

Hailing from Favières, Somme, the Caudron brothers initially engaged in farming before constructing their first substantial biplane in August 1908. Following initial experiments with gliders, they successfully flew a powered aircraft by September 1909. Gaston tragically lost his life in an aviation accident in December 1915, while René remained active in the aerospace sector until the fall of France during World War II and passed away in 1959.

Caudron Frères and Caudron-Renault

To support manufacturing efforts, the brothers set up a production facility in Le Crotoy, near Abbeville, chosen for its excellent flying beach. By May 1910, they had inaugurated a flight training school, which expanded to a second location at Port-Aviation by 1913, capable of instructing up to 250 aviators. During World War I, operations shifted to Lyon and Issy-les-Moulineaux due to the Somme plant’s closeness to combat zones.

Among Caudron’s notable designs was the two-seat Caudron G.3, widely used for pilot instruction; nearly 4,000 units were produced throughout World War I. After the war, manufacturing was centralized at Issy-les-Moulineaux. In response to directives from the French Air Ministry aimed at consolidating aviation companies, Renault acquired a majority 55% share of Caudron in 1933, with René retaining a 45% stake. The aviation branches of both firms merged into Renault Aviation under leadership figures such as François Lehideux and Marcel Riffard. By 1937, Renault had fully absorbed Caudron.

Within Renault’s umbrella, Caudron specialized in lightweight, sporty aircraft equipped with inline-four or inline-six engines aligned with Renault’s automotive products. Thanks to Riffard’s proficiency in aerodynamic design, these planes achieved remarkable speeds despite modest power outputs. During the 1930s, Caudron-Renault established several speed records: Hélène Boucher set world records flying the Caudron C.450 in 1934; that same year, Raymond Delmotte broke the land speed record with the C.460. By 1935, production featured models such as the two-seat C 272-3 Luciole, four-seat C 282-8 Phalene VIII, and advanced racing monoplanes like the C 450 and C 460.

The economic downturn of the Great Depression affected Renault by 1936; consequently, in 1938 Caudron-Renault was spun off as an independent subsidiary to enable Renault to concentrate on automobile manufacturing. Throughout World War II under German occupation, Caudron-Renault manufactured trainer aircraft, automobile bodies, components for Messerschmitt planes including the Bf 108, and provided maintenance services for Wehrmacht aircraft. A planned production run of the Messerschmitt Me 164 was deliberately disrupted. The Issy-les-Moulineaux facility suffered near-total destruction from Allied bombing raids in September 1943 and ultimately ceased all manufacturing activities.

In 1944, the remaining operations were nationalized into Société Nationale de Construction aéronautique du Centre.

Aircraft

(Association Aéroplanes Caudron Frères / Société des avions Caudron)



Luciole family variations: 

 *C270,C272,C272/2,C272/3,C272/4,C272/5,C273,C275

Phalène and Super Phalène collections: 

 *C280,C280/2,C280/6,C280/9,C282,C282/4,C282/8,C282/10,C286,C286/2,C286/2.S4,C286/4,C286/5,C286/6,C286/7,C286/8,C286/9,C289,C289/2,C340,C344,C360,C362,C366,C400,C401,C410


Goéland series includes: 

 *C440,C441,C444,C445,445/1,445/2,445/3,445M,445R,446 Super Goéland,447,448,449,449/1,449/2,449/3,449/4,449/5

Additional significant models: 

 *C450  
 *C460  
 *C461  
 *Frégate:  *C480*

 Simoun lineup:  
 *C500 Simoun I  
 *C510 Pélican  
 *C520 Simoun  
 Variants include: *C530 Rafale*, *C560*, *C561*, *C570*, *C580*, *C600 Aiglon*, *C601 Aiglon*, *C610 Aiglon*, *C620 Simoun IV*, *C630*, *C631*, *C632*, *C634*, *C635*, *C635M*



 Typhon models:  
 *C640 Typhon  
 *C641 Typhon

 Rafale variants:  
 *Standard: *C660 Rafale (530 Rafale)*  
 *Super Rafale versions: *C684*, *C685*

 Cyclone fighter aircraft series:  
 *Progressing through variants such as: *C690*, *C710*, *C711*, *C712*, *C713*, *C714*, *C720*, alongside Caudron-Renault CR types (*CR760, CR770*)

 Other aircraft include:  
 *Epervier series comprising: *C800 Epervier*, *C801*, *C810*, *C811*

 Experimental and less common types include models like the KXC, Navy Experimental Type C Trainer, and LEI

External links

Related profiles

MMesserschmitt-Caudron MeC 164LLouis Renault (industrial)RRenaultPPanhard
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