Caudron G.3

The Caudron G.3 was a tractor biplane with the engine mounted at the front of a small central nacelle in which a crew of one or two resided. The view from the nacelle was fairly obstructed, and swapping the crew -- as was sometimes done -- did little to improve it. Despite these limitations, around 2,800 G.3's were built and they served with not only Aviation Militaire but with five Italian squadriglia, Romania (12 aircraft), Russia (20), and the U.K., where they were used in small numbers from March-October 1915. U.K.-built G.3's had a somewhat smaller wingspan and greater length than the original design.

The G.3 saw an even longer life as a trainer, where it was used well into the 1920's.

The plane was very stable and mild-mannered, an advantage with the lightly-trained pilots of 1914 and with student flyers. While early models all used warping (even on the elevators), later models used hinged elevators. As with the earlier Caudron G.2, two small fins with rudders were used for yaw control. A variety of engines was used, with Anzani being most common in trainers. As a trainer, it also saw service with China and the US. Many famous French pilots got their start in the G.3.

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