Caudron

Caudron refers to Caudron Frères, a French aircraft manufacturer established in 1909 by brothers Gaston Caudron and René Caudron. The company specialized in sport, training, and military aircraft during the early 20th century and became prominent in World War I for its reconnaissance and bomber designs. Among its most notable aircraft were the Caudron G.3, a two-seat reconnaissance biplane introduced in 1913, and the Caudron G.4, a twin-engined long-range reconnaissance bomber that entered service in 1915 and became one of the era’s recognizable French aircraft due to its endurance and payload capacity.

In the interwar period Caudron continued with civil and training aircraft, including the Caudron C.600 Aiglon, a light trainer developed in the 1930s for pilot instruction and military training. During the mid-1930s, the company was acquired by Renault, and Caudron ceased to exist as an independent manufacturer, with its design activities absorbed into Renault-Caudron until the disruptions of World War II.

Caudron is also a surname, notably associated with the Caudron brothers who helped establish the company’s early aviation legacy. The Caudron name remains linked in historical accounts to significant early aviation innovations, especially in World War I aircraft and the development of training and civil aviation designs in the interwar period.