Caudron C.640 Typhon

About Caudron C.640 Typhon – Source Wikipedia

Role: High-Speed Mailplane
Manufacturer: Caudron-Renault
Designers: Georges Otfinovsky, Marcel Riffard
First flight: 1935
Introduction: 1935
Number built: 10

Specifications (C.640)

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Length: 35 ft 11 in (10.95 m)
• Wingspan: 47 ft 6¾ in (11.50 m)
• Height: 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)
• Wing area:301.40 ft² (28.00 m²)
• Empty weight: 3,594 lb (1630 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 7,496 lb (3400 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Renault 6Q inline piston engine, 220 hp (164 kw) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 249 mph (400 km/h)
• Range: 2,315 miles (3725 km)
• Service ceiling: 22,965 ft (7000 m)

History

Similar in concept to the de Havilland DH.88 Comet the Typhon (en: Typhoon) was designed by Georges Otfinovsky and Marcel Riffard for use on long-range postal routes. The first aircraft first flew in March 1935. The aircraft was a twin-engined low-wing cantilever monoplane of wooden construction. Seven C.640s were built. The Typhon established 5000km speed records. It was not a success in operation as its flexible wings experienced buffeting and vibration problems.

Variants

• C.640 Typhon: – production model with Renault 6Q engines, 7 built.
• C.641 Typhon: – record breaking version with raised canopy and increased fuel capacity, 2 built.
• C.670 Typhon – prototype high-speed bomber version with a crew of three, similar to the C.640 but with increased dimensions and weights, one built.