Caudron R.4

__NOTOC__ Infobox Aircraft
name=R.4References

* Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 241. * World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 891 Sheet 17.

caption=
type=Reconnaissance aircraft
manufacturer=Caudron
designer=René Caudron
first flight=
introduced=
retired=
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primary user=
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produced=
number built=249
variants with their own articles=References

* Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 241. * World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 891 Sheet 17.

The Caudron R.4 was a French World War I reconnaissance aircraft.

Development

The aircraft was completed in prototype form in June 1915 and, for its time, was a remarkably clean and smooth-contoured aircraft. While the brothers Caudron had collaborated closely in aircraft design up to this point, the G.3 and G.4 had been credited largely to Gaston Caudron, while the R.4 was mostly the work of René Caudron. The R.4 was a radical departure from its predecessors, with an attractive full-length fuselage and single fin and rudder. The unequal-span wings had three bays on each side, and there were ailerons on the upper wing only. As well as the twin-wheel main landing gear units and tailskid, there was a single nose-wheel intended to protect the propellers in rough landings. References

* Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 241. * World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 891 Sheet 17.

Operational history

The R.4 performed well in combat conditions, not only maintaining defensive capabilities whilst in reconnaissance mode but also achieving success in shooting-down a considerable number of enemy aircraft. Intended originally as a bomber, it served mainly as a three-seat reconnaissance aircraft, frequently engaged in photographic work. Its climb rate was not impressive, and a few aircraft were built with more-powerful 112kW Hispano-Suiza 8Aa engines in an attempt at improvement. The problem which emerged was that production aircraft began to reveal a certain structural weakness. In developing the aircraft, a number of crashes occurred; the most disastrous for the Caudron firm occurred on 12 December1915, when a series aircraft under test was destroyed and Gaston Caudron, who was piloting the aircraft, was killed.

In early use Escadrille C.46 had claimed 34 German aircraft brought down with its R.4s in an eight-week period, but it was soon clear that in addition to structural redesign, improved ceiling and greater manoeuvrability were highly desirable. The new Caudron chief designer, Paul Deville, accordingly set to work on an improved development which was to emerge as the Caudron R.11. Production of the R.4 was terminated after 249 had been built. In the reconnaissance escadrilles it was replaced by the more-powerful Letord 1 in 1917.References

* Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 241. * World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 891 Sheet 17.

Operators

;FRAReferences

* Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 241. * World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 891 Sheet 17.

pecifications

aerospecs
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met or eng?= met

crew=Three
capacity=
length m=11.80
length ft=38
length in=9
span m=21.10
span ft=69
span in=3References

* Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 241. * World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 891 Sheet 17.

swept m=
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dia m=
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width m=
width ft=
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height m=3.20
height ft=10
height in=6
wing area sqm=70.0
wing area sqft=754
swept area sqm=
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rot area sqm=
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volume m3=
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aspect ratio=
empty weight kg=1,710
empty weight lb=3,770
gross weight kg=2,330
gross weight lb=5,137
lift kg=
lift lb=

eng1 number=2
eng1 type=Renault 12Db
eng1 kw= 97
eng1 hp= 130
eng1 kn=
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max speed kmh=136
max speed mph=85
max speed mach=
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range km=
range miles=
endurance h= 3
endurance min= 0
ceiling m=4,600
ceiling ft=15,090
glide ratio=
climb rate ms=1.9
climb rate ftmin=374
sink rate ms=
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armament1=2 × .303 Lewis guns in flexible mount in nose
armament2=2 × .303 Lewis guns in flexible mount in dorsal position
armament3=Up to 100 kg (220 lb) of bombs
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References

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ee also

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similar aircraft=

sequence=
R.3 - R.4 - R.5 - R.6 - R.8 →

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