Caudron C.460

The Caudron C.460, often called the “Moustique,” was a light, single‑engine racer built by the French brothers René and Maurice Caudron in the mid‑1930s. Designed to compete in the popular air‑racing circuits that blossomed in Europe after World War I, the C.460 first flew in 1934 and quickly proved its speed. Its wooden low‑wing monoplane layout, sleek elliptical wing and streamlined fuselage were powered by a 140‑hp Renault 4Pei Bengali inverted air‑cooled inline engine, later upgraded to a 165‑hp Renault 4Pei variant. The aircraft’s fixed, spatted undercarriage and fully enclosed cockpit reduced drag, allowing it to reach a certified maximum speed of 380 km/h (236 mph). In 1935 the C.460 set several Fédération Aéronautique Internationale records for distance and speed over a 500‑km circuit, and it dominated the Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe contests, winning in 1935 and 1936. Its success demonstrated the aerodynamic advantages of clean, low‑wing designs and inspired later French racers such as the Caudron C.560. Although production was limited to fewer than twenty examples, the C.460’s blend of lightweight construction, powerful engine, and elegant lines left a lasting imprint on pre‑war aviation and the development of high‑performance sport aircraft.