Caudron C.59

Caudron · France · first flew 1921 · light aircraft

The Caudron C.59 was a French two-seat biplane trainer produced in the early 1920s, widely used by the Armée de l'Air and exported to numerous countries as an elementary and advanced trainer.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsHigh-mounted, straight
E — Engines1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage7.8 m fuselage
T — TailConventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

A conventional open-cockpit biplane with tandem seating, straight wings, and a Hispano-Suiza or similar inline engine. The relatively clean lines distinguish it slightly from more utilitarian contemporaries.

Specifications

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The C.59 was one of Caudron's most successful interwar trainers, entering service in 1921 and remaining in use through much of the decade. It was exported to Belgium, Poland, Spain, Romania, and other countries, serving as a key instrument of pilot training across Europe in the early 1920s.

Variants

The C.59 was produced in hydroplane (floatplane) and landplane versions; minor engine variants also existed.

Where you'll see it

Widely operated by the French Armée de l'Air and numerous export customers throughout the 1920s for primary and advanced flying training.

Related aircraft

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