Caudron C.280

C.280 Phalène
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	Caudron C.286 of the Nationalist Spanish Air Force
Role	Utility aircraft
Manufacturer	Caudron
Designer	Paul Deville
First flight	March 1932
Number built	240 (plus 51 military examples)

The Caudron C.280 Phalène ("Moth") was a civil utility aircraft built in France during the 1930s. It was a high-wing braced monoplane of conventional configuration with fixed tailskid undercarriage. The pilot and two-three passengers were accommodated within an enclosed cabin. The structure was wooden throughout, with the forward fuselage skinned with plywood, and the rest of the aircraft fabric-covered.

The type proved popular on the civil market, with a number of long-distance flights staged to promote it. The French military also purchased a number of examples under the C.400 and C.410 designations. The Caudron C.286 that ended up in the Second Spanish Republic was captured by the nationalist faction and used as liaison aircraft during the Spanish Civil War.^[1]

Variants

C.280 - Prototypes equipped with the de Havilland Gipsy II piston engine. (Five built)
- C.280/2 - Four-seat light touring monoplane, powered by a 108 kW (145 hp) Renault 4Pdi piston engine. 21 built.,
- C.280/6 - This version had rounded wingtips. Only one was built.
- C.280/9 - The fuselage was lengthened by 20 cm (8 in). (Three built)
C.282 Super Phalene - Powered by a de Havilland Gipsy Major piston engine. (11 built).
- C.280/4 - fitted with dual controls, automatic slots and flaps. (Nine built)
- C.282/8 - Definitive production version, equipped with a 108 kW (145 hp) Renault 4Pdi piston engine. Similar to the C.282/2. (89 built, plus three conversions)
- C.282/10 - Equipped with the Merville series 601 propeller.
C.286 - Powered by a de Havilland Gipsy III piston engine. (11 built)
- C.286/2 Fitted rounded wingtips. (Ten built)
- C.286/2.S4 and C.286/3.S4' - Special luxury versions, powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major I piston engine. (Ten built)
- C.282/4 Super-Phalene - (five built)
- C.286/5 Super-Phalène - This version was equipped with a de Havilland Gipsy III piston engine. (One built)
- C.286/6 Super-Phalène - This version was equipped with a de Havilland Gipsy Major piston engine, it was also fitted with a Merville 501 propeller. (Five built)
- C.286/7 Super-Phalene - equipped with Ratier series 1175 variable-pitch propeller. (Eight built)
- C.286/8 Super-Phalène - The fuselage was lengthened slightly, it was powered by a de Havilland Gipsy Major piston engine. (Four built)
- C.286/9 Super-Phalene - The fuselage was slightly shorter. (One built)
C.289/2 -Powered by a 112 kW (150 hp) Hispano-Suzia 5Q radial piston engine. (Five built)
C.400 - Military version. 40 were built for the French Air Force.
- C.401 - Several C.400s were modified for civilian use during the postwar years.
C.410 - Military version, powered by a 104-kW (140-hp) Renault 4Pdi piston engine. (11 built)