Caudron C.61
Caudron · France · first flew 1921 · airliner
The Caudron C.61 was a French trimotor biplane airliner designed for early European air routes, featuring three Salmson or Hispano-Suiza engines for improved reliability on passenger services.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- French trimotor biplane airliner of the early 1920s
- Three radial engines — one in nose, two on lower wing
- Open or lightly enclosed cabin seating
Identified by its unequal-span biplane wings, two wing-mounted engines below the upper wing, and a third engine in the nose, combined with fixed undercarriage and a fabric-covered fuselage.
Specifications
- The Caudron C.61 has a length of 14 m (46 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 24 m (79 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 160 km/h (99 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 pilots + 7–8 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Produced in small numbers from 1921, the C.61 was operated by Compagnie Franco-Roumaine de Navigation Aérienne on central European routes before being superseded by more modern types later in the decade.
Variants
Minor engine fit variations existed; the C.61 series led to the refined C.61ter with higher-powered engines.
Where you'll see it
Served primarily on Franco-Romanian and early French colonial air routes during the early 1920s; a minor type with limited surviving documentation.
Related aircraft
- Caudron C.59
- Caudron C.27
- Caudron R.11
- Caudron G.4
- Caproni Ca.60 Transaereo
- de Havilland DH.15 Gazelle
- Fokker F.III
- Airco DH.18
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