The Rio de Janeiro was a Brazilian single-engine, biplane utility aircraft.
Design and development It was based on the Caudron G.3. Built almost entirely of wood and canvas, it had three seats. It has a Gnome et Rhône engine, of the push–pull configuration, with a fixed pitch propeller made of wood. The reinforced landing gear included four wheels and two fixed skids, with a rear skid. It was nicknamed Cochon (in English: Hog).
Operational history First flew daily, since the first flight, and was maintained without any changes, which proved its safety. Moreover, since its departure from the Lage & Irmãos workshops, it had already transported 200 passengers and made a Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo air bridge trip. Another important factor is that with two passengers on board, it reached an altitude of 2000 meters in 22 minutes.
Specifications
References
Further reading Susana Alexandria, 1910 - O Primeiro Voo do Brasil, Ed. Aleph, São Paulo, 2010. .
External links Lafay Rio de Janeiro (Brazilian Air Force)