Caudron C.59

The Caudron C.59 was a French two‑seat biplane designed and built by the Caudron brothers in the early 1920s. First flown in 1922, the aircraft was intended as a military trainer but quickly found a broader role in civil sport and aerobatic flying. Powered typically by a 120 hp (90 kW) Le Rhone 9R rotary or a 130 hp Salmson 9Ab radial engine, the C.59 featured a wood‑frame fuselage covered in fabric, equal‑span, unstaggered wings with simple bracing wires, and a fixed tailskid undercarriage. Its open cockpits placed the student in front and the instructor behind, providing excellent visibility for both. The aircraft’s gentle handling, low stall speed and robust construction made it a favorite at French flight schools such as those at Buc and Villacoublay, where it logged thousands of training hours. Overseas, the C.59 saw limited service with the Spanish and Belgian air forces, influencing the development of later trainers like the Caudron C.191. Although eclipsed by more powerful monoplanes in the 1930s, the C.59 remains a symbol of post‑World‑War‑I aviation, illustrating the transition from wartime combat types to dedicated training platforms that helped shape the next generation of pilots.

Caudron

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