100 years ago, October 14, 1919, Etienne Poulet and his mechanic Jean Benoist left Paris to try to reach Melbourne in Australia.
A raid of more than 20,000 km aboard a modified Caudron G4.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7837/32700753798_8779a3bd0c_b.jpg)
The G4 dubbed "the fly" ready for departure.
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b9032996r.r=Benoist%20et%20Poulet?rk=21459;2 (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b9032996r.r=Benoist%20et%20Poulet?rk=21459;2)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7892/32700723798_878b21fa4c_b.jpg)
Etienne Poulet (left) and Jean Benoist, "The young Benoist carrying the road maps"
It was Kajetan Schulz who was interested in this raid and offered me with Xan to join me in this project. I thank them for it.
Kajetan Schulz is a Polish craftsman who designs decal projects for Copper State Models (Ni.17 for example) as well as for the private maquetists. It produces all resin parts for CSM
The resin parts of the conversion kit will have enough space to decorate the interior of the cabin, new propellers, water bottles and decals.
His site:
https://meliusmanu.pl/ (https://meliusmanu.pl/)
There are not so many companies interested in our story, I think Kajetan deserves support in this brave initiative.
Some images of the aircraft are well known but many hours of research were needed to decipher the inscriptions that cover the cockpit, engine nacelles, tanks and drifts. All information comes from the press of the 20s, photos found on the internet and the museum Caudron (City Street).
The plane belonged to Etienne Poulet. It has been refurbished (doc. Air life illustrated p 683) by the company Caudron.
It has been modified to be able to fly for 12 hours without refueling at a maximum speed of 105km / h.
http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6553380s/f41.item.r=Poulet.zoom (http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6553380s/f41.item.r=Poulet.zoom)
Two additional tanks were installed between the wings (500 liters of petrol instead of 150 liters of petrol and 35 liters of oil in the standard version).
Both tanks were offered by Caudron (Le Matin 13/12/19).
It is planned to make castor oil in the course of the trip ...
Despite Etienne Poulet's requests, no help has been given by France. The project is therefore carried out at its own expense (60,000 francs at the time) with the support of industrialist Paul Plouvier and journalist Jean Lhermit. The supplies will be supplied in part by Great Britain in its colonies, Mesopotamia, India, Siam (Thailand).
With reluctance Etienne Poulet agrees to cover his plane with advertisements for the engine manufacturer Gnome and Rhone as well as for the brand varnish that covers the canvas of the aircraft.The two tanks also carry inscriptions as well as the upper wing.
Etienne Poulet and Jean Benoist bring in more fuel spare parts, two propellers fixed under the plane, a wheel in the cockpit (photo), a rifle (photo), a pistol, a can of 5 liters of water and food for a week.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7888/46717648741_b5a38cf892_c.jpg)
The card dispenser (in the hands of the mechanic at the bottom right), the barrel of the rifle protruding from
the cockpit and spare wheel. Advertisements on the engine nacelle
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7881/45662063125_8f77343377_b.jpg)
Thirty meters of cards in rolls are stored behind the driver.
The station of TSF is abandoned in favor of pigeons travelers much less heavy. Jean Benoist is thus seated between two crates during all the flight (the uncompromising 02/02/20).
They carry in all 750 kg of material.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7882/46637656771_44b609bfc9_h.jpg)
On engine nacelles advertising for Gnome and Rhône engines as well as the varnish used to coat the canvas
This photo was taken in the Caudron Museum of the city of Rue (very small but very nice and that costs only 2 €).
You can also access the Caudron archives by making an appointment.
https://musee-caudron-test2.jimdo.com/ (https://musee-caudron-test2.jimdo.com/)
Happy New Year!!!
Cordially