Origins and Debut
The Caudron C.640 Typhon aircraft was developed at the initiative of Jean Mermoz, a French pioneer in long-distance mail aviation. The first C.640 prototype made its debut flight in June 1935.
Innovative Design Features
It was a cantilever low-wing monoplane of wooden construction, powered by twin engines. It featured narrow-chord tip ailerons, slotted flaps, and trimmers on all control surfaces. The tailplane had a variable incidence angle and could be adjusted in flight.
The main landing gear struts retracted backward, fully stowing into the streamlined engine nacelles located on the underside of the wing. Two crew members were arranged in tandem in an enclosed cockpit with dual controls and a full set of radio equipment.
The Record-Breaking Variant
Seven C.640 aircraft were built, with the fourth and seventh examples featuring an enlarged vertical stabilizer. In addition to the main modification, another version, the C.641, was produced. This was a single-seater variant of the C.640, designed for record-breaking attempts.
The pilot was positioned under a raised canopy, and the fuel supply was almost doubled to provide a flight range of up to 6700 km. Two examples of this version were built.
Technical Specifications
| Modification | C. 640 |
| Wingspan, m | 11. 50 |
| Aircraft length, m | 10.95 |
| Aircraft height, m | 3. 00 |
| Wing area, m2 | 28.00 |
| Empty weight | 1630 |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 3400 |
| Engine type | 2 Piston engines Renault 6Q |
| Power, hp | 2 x 220 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 400 |
| Cruising speed, km/h | 370 |
| Practical range, km | 3725 |
| Practical ceiling, m | 7000 |
| Crew | 2 |
Image and diagram gallery of the Caudron C.640 Typhon
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