Caudron C.280 Phalène

Caudron · France · first flew 1932 · light aircraft

The Caudron C.280 Phalène was a French four-seat high-wing touring monoplane of the early 1930s, produced as a comfortable private and club aircraft.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.8 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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French 1930s light touring monoplane
High-wing strut-braced design with enclosed cabin
Named Phalène (moth) — part of Caudron's insect-themed naming series

Typical strut-braced high-wing cabin monoplane with an enclosed four-seat cabin, conventional fixed undercarriage, and a small air-cooled engine; similar in appearance to contemporary Piper Cub or Cessna designs but distinctly French in construction.

Specifications

The Caudron C.280 Phalène has a length of 7.8 m (26 ft).
It has a wingspan of 12.5 m (41 ft).
Its maximum speed is 175 km/h (109 mph).
Typical crew: 1 + 3 passengers.

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

History

Caudron's Phalène series represented a move toward enclosed-cabin light aircraft for the French civil market in the early 1930s. The C.280 was used by private owners and aero-clubs across France and enjoyed modest commercial success before being superseded by faster designs later in the decade.

Variants

C.280 with Salmson or Renault engine options; C.282 Phalène with uprated engine; several sub-variants with different power units.

Where you'll see it

Used by French aero-clubs and private owners in the 1930s; no significant military use.

Related aircraft

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