Caudron G.3 Country: France Type: Reconnaissance Manufacturer: Caudron Service: 1914 - 1917 First Flight: May 1914 Production: 2849

The Caudron G.3 was a single-engined French biplane built by Caudron, widely used in World War I as a reconnaissance aircraft and trainer. In comparison to its competitors, it had a better rate of climb.

The G.3 was in French service at the start of World War I. Following the outbreak of the First World War, it was ordered in large quantities. The Caudron factories built 1423 aircraft (2450 total were built in France) and it was built under licence in several other countries (233 were built in England and 166 were built in Italy).

As the war went on however, its low performance and the fact that it was unarmed made it vulnerable in front line service, and so the French withdrew it from front line operations in mid-1916. The Italians also used the G.3 for reconnaissance on a wide scale until 1917, as did the English RFC (continuing operations until October 1917),who also fitted some with light bombs and machine guns for ground attack.

General characteristics