MAPICA - Avion Caudron Luciole

Restoration of Caudron Luciole C-272 -Click on the photos to enlarge



The 1st fitting of the wings	Covering is done at last moment

The setting in line of flight		Large part of work, the engine and it's controls

Fitting the engine controls	Arrival of the remains of the Luciole at La Baule	Forgotten in an old collapsed hangar, the state in 1980

HISTORY of F-AZCT Caudron C275 "Luciole"

in 1937 it belonged to a pilot living near at St. Herblon near Ancenis (France-department 44 ), the aircraft was dismantled and hidden from the occupying forces. Re-assembled in 1945, it flew for a short time at Le Mans and was then bought by the Aeroclub of Ancenis. It flew without incident until a day in 1955 when it crashed into a tree. To recover the aircraft it was cut into two - to avoid cutting down the tree !!!

In many bits it was stocked in a barn which collapsed on top of it during a storm ! For a long time forgotten, it was not until 1980 that somebody mentioned it's existence over a beer in the bar of the "Aeroclub de La Baule". It was all that was needed for Raymond Delaunay to bring the aircraft back to La Baule and to found along with Jean Ferrand and others, the Association La Luciole. A long and difficult adventure. The first official flight taking place on 20 July 1985..

-Back