French Cayley 1896 15mm x1

The Fr.1896 was designed to counter the increasing threat of large Aerolyth vessels and bolster the aging Cayley fleet that protected France. It would also replace the disappointing Fr.1890. To accomplish this, it would take advantage of new technologies, namely improved internal combustion engines and improved wing design. High speed was also a requirement, and so the Bureau Aerospatial worked closely with the Italian Piaggo design team that had designed the Piaggo C.4.