title: Caudron Typhon
text: # Caudron Typhon
  
  The Caudron C.640 Typhon was a 1930s French high-speed single-seat monoplane utility aircraft built by Caudron-Renault.
  
  ## History
  
  Similar in concept to the de Havilland DH.88 Comet the Typhon (en: Typhoon) was designed by Georges Otfinovsky and Marcel Riffard for use on long-range postal routes. The first aircraft first flew on 17 June 1935. The aircraft was a twin-engined low-wing cantilever monoplane of wooden construction. Seven C.640s were built. The Typhon established 5000 km speed records. It was not a success in operation as its flexible wings experienced buffeting and vibration problems.
  
  ## Variants
  
  * C.640 Typhon - production model with Renault 6Q engines, 7 built.
  * C.641 Typhon - record breaking version with raised canopy and increased fuel capacity, 2 built.
  * C.670 Typhon - prototype high-speed bomber version with a crew of three, similar to the C.640 but with increased dimensions and weights, one built.
  
  ## Operators
  
  ### France
  
  * French Air Force
  
  ### Romania
  
  * Romanian Air Force
  
  ## Specifications (C.640)
  
  Data from Aviafrance : Caudron C.640 'Typhon'
  
  General characteristics
  
  * Crew: 2
  * Length: 10.95 m (35 ft 11 in)
  * Wingspan: 11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
  * Height: 3 m (9 ft 10 in)
  * Wing area: 28 $m^2$ (300 sq ft)
  * Empty weight: 1,630 kg (3,594 lb)
  * Gross weight: 3,400 kg (7,496 lb)
  * Powerplant: 2 × Renault 6Q 6-cylinder inverted air-cooled in-line piston engines, 164 kW (220 hp) each
  * Propellers: 2-bladed Ratier
  
  Performance
  
  * Maximum speed: 400 km/h (250 mph, 220 kn)
  * Cruise speed: 370 km/h (230 mph, 200 kn)
  * Range: 3,725 km (2,315 mi, 2,011 nmi)
  * Service ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft)
  