Building upon the success of one of the Deutsch de la Meurthe Cup winners, the C.362, engineer Marcel Riffard designed the Caudron C.450 racing aircraft. This single-seat, all-wood low-wing monoplane featured wing spar shelves made from Cameroonian walnut, and was powered by a 300 hp Renault 456 engine.
Innovative Design and Early Triumphs
Only one example of this innovative aircraft was produced in 1934. Piloted by Maurice Arnoux, the C.450 not only won the main prize of the Deutsch de la Meurthe Cup but also set new speed records over 100 and 200 km distances, achieving 431.6 km/h and 389 km/h respectively.
Hélène Boucher: Aviation Pioneer and Record-Setter
On August 8 of the same year, at the Guyancourt airfield, built by the “Caudron” firm near Versailles, 26-year-old aviator Hélène Boucher, piloting the C.450, set speed records over 100 kilometers (412 km/h) and 1000 kilometers (409 km/h). On August 11, she broke the women’s speed record, reaching 445 km/h.
Tragically, on November 30, 1934, Hélène Boucher crashed during a training flight. Posthumously, she was awarded France’s highest state honor—the Order of the Legion of Honour—a testament to her extraordinary contributions to aviation.
Technical Specifications
| Modification | C. 450 |
| Wingspan, m | 6.74 |
| Length, m | 7.12 |
| Height, m | 1.80 |
| Wing area, m2 | 6.90 |
| Empty weight | 520 |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 900 |
| Engine type | 1 Piston engine Renault 456 |
| Power, hp | 1 x 300 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 500 |
| Crew | 1 |
Image and diagram gallery of the Caudron C.450
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