Renault 438

The Renault 438, a.k.a. Coupe Deutsch 1934 was a specially developed racing engine, designed and built in France, for use in aircraft competing in the Coupe Deutsch [de la Meurthe] aircraft races.

Design and development

Following closely the developments with the 6P and 6Q, the 438 married a turbo-supercharger with narrow bore high compression cylinders and the crankcase design of the 6Q

Operational history

Only two aircraft types, both one-offs, are known to have used the 438 engine. One was F-AMVA, a Caudron C.430/1 Rafale, for racing and record attempts, particularly the Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe races, the other Hanriot H.183 F-AOJG, an aerobatic version of the Hanriot H.180.

Applications