The Caudron JN-760 Cyclone Replica (ICAO code JN76) is a modern, one-off aircraft designed to evoke the aesthetics and layout of the 1930s French light fighter family. Unlike a mass-produced aircraft, this specific airframe was built in France and completed in 1999 by Jean Noan. While official ICAO type-designator databases attribute the manufacturer as the historical Société des Avions Caudron, the JN-760 is a homebuilt replica rather than a factory product from the original company.
The design of the JN-760 is based on the work of Marcel Riffard, the chief designer at Caudron-Renault who developed the original C.710, C.714, and C.760 "Cyclone" series. The historical Cyclone fighters were notable for their lightweight wooden structures and streamlined low-wing monoplane configurations, which were intended to maximize speed despite using relatively low-power inline engines. The JN-760 replica maintains this compact footprint, with a documented wingspan of 8.9 meters and a length of 8.9 meters.
Technically, the replica departs from the original 1930s powerplants by utilizing a SNECMA 12T piston engine. SNECMA, the French engine manufacturer that later became part of Safran, produced the 12-cylinder 12T series in the mid-20th century. The aircraft is classified as a single-engine light landplane (L1P) with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 2,000 kg. It is configured as a single-seat aircraft, mirroring the cockpit layout of the original fighter design.
While the JN-760 replica itself has no military service history, the aircraft it replicates played a role in early World War II. The Caudron C.714 was operated by the French Air Force, including Polish volunteer squadrons and the Finnish Air Force, with some airframes later seized by the Luftwaffe. The JN-760 specifically references the C.760 variant, a more powerful derivative that never reached mass production. Today, the JN-760 replica exists as a privately operated civil aircraft, often identified by the French registration F-AZJY, serving as a rare airworthy homage to the heritage of Caudron-Renault.