Caudron C.530 Rafale

Caudron · France · first flew 1934 · light aircraft

The Caudron C.530 Rafale was a French two-seat racing and touring monoplane that first flew in early 1934, one of the highly successful Caudron racing designs of the mid-1930s.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.5 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Sleek low-wing racing monoplane with fully enclosed side-by-side cabin
Very clean cowling around Renault inline engine with minimal frontal area
Spatted fixed undercarriage and flush-riveted smooth skin

The very clean aerodynamic lines, minimal cowling, and spatted undercarriage give the C.530 a distinctive thoroughbred appearance among 1930s French light aircraft.

Specifications

The Caudron C.530 Rafale has a length of 7.5 m (25 ft).
It has a wingspan of 9.2 m (30 ft).
Its maximum speed is 300 km/h (186 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

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

History

Developed by Caudron in close collaboration with Renault, the C.530 Rafale combined a lightweight airframe with a refined inline engine installation to achieve outstanding performance for its power. Seven aircraft were built, and the type scored multiple victories in French air racing competitions in 1934.

Variants

The C.530 was one of several related Caudron racing types; the broader family included the C.460 single-seater that won the 1936 Thompson Trophy.

Where you'll see it

Used exclusively in air racing and record-breaking flights; the Rafale was not adapted for any military or commercial role.

Related aircraft

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