Romantic Techno
April 1, 2013 at 8:53 pm

Caudron with unusual engine

I am not getting out of trouble with the SDASM collection. This time I thought just look on aviafrance.com, one of them will be it. Or if there is no picture, I just google. But nothing to be found.

The aircraft – I hope it is a Caudron at all, but which other firm execises that kind of style? – has an engine like no other Caudron. The scattering of the exhausts remind to a Hispano-Suiza engine. Maybe it is one. Vertical fin and rudder seem to be bigger than they usually are with a Caudron. Or could the picture be a fake (no April joke intended)?

I am very thankful for your help!:rolleyes:

Regards, RT

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

144

Send private message

By: Romantic Techno - 3rd April 2013 at 16:39

Hi friends,

and thank you Graham + Peter, you found it!:);):)

I know I often suffer from a tunnel view, that’s why I have to ask here…:o

airwar.ru contains a picture of YR-MAY:
http://www.airwar.ru/enc/other2/fn305.html

and this Roumanian website contains one of YR-MAH:
http://www.cartula.ro/forum/topic/3477-nardi-fn-305-azur-172/page__st__20

Thanks again!

See you, and regards, RT

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

494

Send private message

By: Peter D Evans - 2nd April 2013 at 20:18

Graham has it… this was one of two Piaggio built Nardi FN305D fitted with an Argus As10E-3 engines and both were equipped with variable pitch propellers. One was registered YR-MAH and this example looks to be YR-MAY… [source: “Nardi FN305” by Gregory Alegi]

Cheers
Pete

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

870

Send private message

By: Graham Boak - 2nd April 2013 at 19:50

It’s a Nardi FN305 or variant, in Romanian hands I’d say. Yes, the engine looks like an Argus to me, too.

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

1,503

Send private message

By: Sopwith - 2nd April 2013 at 19:46

Any idea what year the photo dates from?

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

2,639

Send private message

By: Melvyn Hiscock - 1st April 2013 at 23:45

I know the 12 cylinder Argus was made in France (and after the war, it powered the Flamant), but this does look like the 8 cylinder. It looks pre war too.

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

1,503

Send private message

By: Sopwith - 1st April 2013 at 22:57

Aaagh spelt Argus wrong before anyone points it out.

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

1,503

Send private message

By: Sopwith - 1st April 2013 at 22:56

Yes I agree it does look like an Argos or similar,aircooled anyway.Lovely looking aeroplane.

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

337

Send private message

By: Supermarine305 - 1st April 2013 at 21:16

No idea on the plane, but could the engine be an Argus AS10? The cowling and prominent push rods look similar.