Caudron G.4

The Caudron G.4 was a French two‑seat biplane introduced in 1915 and quickly became one of the first successful twin‑engine bombers of World I. Designed by René Caudron at the Caudron company in Le Croix, the aircraft first flew in February 1915 and entered service with the Aéronautique Militaire later that year. Powered by two 80 hp Le Rhône 9C rotary engines mounted on the lower wings in a tractor configuration, the G.4 could reach 130 km/h and carry up to 200 kg of bombs, while a rear gunner operated a flexible machine gun for defensive fire. Its wooden frame, fabric covering, and fixed tailskid undercarriage gave it the reliability needed for the rough forward airfields of the time. Production exceeded 1,300 airframes, and the type saw extensive use not only by France but also by Belgium, Italy, Russia and the United States. The G.4’s twin‑engine layout proved the tactical advantage of greater payload and redundancy, influencing later designs such as the Caudron G.6 and the broader development of strategic bombing. After the war it served as a trainer, cementing its legacy as a milestone in early military aviation.