Caudron C.635 Simoun

Caudron · France · first flew 1934 · light aircraft

The Caudron Simoun was a fast French touring and transport monoplane of the 1930s, noted for its elegant lines and impressive speed for a light aircraft of the era. It was derived from the racing Caudron Renault series.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	Enclosed four-seat cabin with rounded fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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

Spot it by:

Sleek low-wing monoplane tourer of the 1930s
Enclosed four-seat cabin with rounded fuselage
Used by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry on long-distance flights

A neat low-wing monoplane with a well-faired inline engine, spatted fixed undercarriage, and a smoothly contoured cabin. The tapered wing and rounded wingtips are characteristic.

Specifications

The Caudron C.635 Simoun has a length of 8.7 m (29 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.4 m (34 ft).
Its maximum speed is 310 km/h (193 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

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

History

First flown in 1934, the Simoun quickly attracted attention for its performance, exceeding 300 km/h on modest power. It was famously flown by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Mermoz on long-distance record attempts. The Armée de l'Air also used it for liaison duties, and it saw limited use at the outbreak of World War II.

Variants

The main production version was the C.635, powered by a Renault 6Q engine; earlier marks (C.630–C.634) differed in engine type and minor airframe details.

Where you'll see it

Widely used in French civil aviation during the late 1930s for touring and record-breaking flights; also operated in small numbers by the French military for liaison roles.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.