| Caudron 02 | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Single seatfighter aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Caudron |
| Designer | Paul Deville |
| History | |
| First flight | November 1917 |
TheCaudron 02 was a French high altitude single seatfighter that was flown in November 1917.
The proper name and even the existence of this aircraft have been disputed in the past, but plans for the Type 02 high altitudefighter aircraft have since been found in the FrenchMusée de l'Air.[1] Hauet[1] also refers to it as the C.02 and Green and Swanborough[2] as theType O, though the latter was a quite different sports aircraft from 1914.[3]
The Type 02 was designed to fight at altitudes up to 9,000 m (29,500 ft) through a combination of engine power and flatairfoil section.[1][2] It was a conventionalsingle bay biplane withfabric covered, unswept, parallelchord wings ending in angled tips. The lower wing was smaller than the upper one, with a span reduced by 13% and a narrower chord. The wings had neitherstagger nordihedral and only the upper wing was fitted withailerons. There was a pair of parallel, upright, streamlinedinterplane struts on each side, with the usual diagonal wire bracing. The upper wing was close to thefuselage, linked by four short, leaningcabane struts.[1]
The intention was to power the Type 02 operationally with either a 112 kW (150 hp)Gnome 9N or a 127–134 kW (170–180 hp)Le Rhône 9R engine, though for about fours months of initial testing it was fitted with a 89 kW (120 hp)Le Rhône 9Jb. All of these engines were nine cylinderrotaries. Photographs show neat, close fittedcowlings.[1][2] Behind the engine the fuselage maintained a circular cross-section. The pilot's open cockpit was placed under the uppertrailing edge, where there was a semi-circular cut-out to increase his upward field of view. The Type 02'stailplane was of unusually long chord and in plan was a highly swept delta, mounted on top of the fuselage. Thefin was also wide and shallow, though less angular. It had an unbalanced rudder which reached down to the keel, operating in a nick in theelevators. There was atailskid undercarriage with mainwheels on a single axle with a 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) track, sprung from forward raked V-struts from the lower fuselage.[1]
First tests were made in November 1917, using the lower powered Le Rhône engine and flying from a base at 4,000 m (13,100 ft).[1] The more powerful Gnome engine was not tested until April 1918;[1] and the larger Le Rhône was also fitted that spring.[2] It is not known how many prototypes were built but the Type 02 did not enter production; it handled well but its performance and armament were not a significant improvement over those of theSPAD S.XIII, already in series production.[1]
Data from Hauet (2001) p.135[1]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament