Editing Light fighter (section)

===Interwar period===
[[File:Ferte-Alais Air Show 2004 16.jpg|thumb|A replica of the Caudron C.714 at the [[La Ferté-Alais Air Show]], 2004]]
The light fighter class originally stemmed from concern at the growing size and cost of the frontline fighters in the 1920s. During the late 1920s and 1930s the light fighter would receive significant attention, especially in France.<ref>Green and Swanborough (1994), p.19: ''"the French and 'thirties vogue for lightweight fighters.''</ref>

One early light fighter project was the [[List of aircraft of the French Air Force during World War II|French Air Force]]'s 'Jockey' interceptor program of 1926. Several aircraft, including the [[Nieuport-Delage NiD 48]] and [[Amiot 110]], were trialed without much success as they offered little over [[Nieuport-Delage NiD 62|aircraft already in production]]<ref>Green and Swanborough (1994), p.439.</ref> In the late 1920s the British similarly issued [[List of Air Ministry specifications|specification F.20/27]] for a short-range fast-climbing daylight interceptor. The [[de Havilland DH.77]] and [[Vickers Jockey]] monoplanes were among seven designs tendered to meet the specification but neither went into production, the heavier but faster biplane [[Hawker Fury]] being preferred.

Despite the failure of their Jockey program, the French returned to lightweight fighters during the 1930s as a means to expand [[France]]'s fleet of aircraft and counter the buildup of the German air force. This focused on light wooden fighters that could be built quickly without affecting production of other aircraft. A mid-thirties specification requiring fixed undercarriage produced two prototypes and in 1936 a revised requirement for retractable gear resulted in three prototypes. The most numerous of the two designs which went into production was the [[Caudron C.714]]. Delivery began in early 1940, but less than 100 had been built before [[Battle of France|the fall of France]].<ref>Green and Swanborough (1994), pp.18, 19, 30, 71-2, 111-2.</ref> Although underpowered, it was of necessity used by Polish air force pilots serving in France.