During 1908, the Voisin brothers built for Farman another aircraft, to be called the Farman II, incorporating refinements in the design based on Farman’s specifications. After the break in his association with Voisin in early 1909, Henry Farman started aircraft construction for himself.
The first flight in Peru was made in Lima on 15 January 1911 by Juan Bielovucic, with the original configuration of the machine. The whole flight lasted one minute and Bielovucic only rose to 40 meters. Later cross-country flights were made with the machine locally modified with an extended top wing to get more lift.
Originally, George White of Bristol Aeroplanes wanted to build licensed copies of the Zodiac biplane designed by Gabriel Voisin, after one was bought by White to show at the 1910 London Aero Meet.
After taking the Zodiac to Brooklands airfield for tests, no one could get the plane of the ground—perhaps due to an under-powered engine to plane weight ratio, and the shallow camber of the wing section—a fact commented on by the pioneering aviation magazine, Flight.
To compensate for the wing problem, White and company added a different set… but still… a weak motor is a weak motor.
On May 28, 1910, pilot Maurice Edmond was able to achieve a short flight, but on June 10, 1910, an accident that damaged its undercarriage had the frustrated crew give up on the Zodiac… even with five other such copies being built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company at its headquarters at Filton.
The Voisin Triplane was a large experimental bomber built by Voisin. The first model was designing and produced in 39 days, presentation in August 1915 before the French high military, and was fitted with four Salmson radial engines of 150 hp / 110 kW each. The four engines were mounted in tandem pairs in two nacelles on the centre wing. Not only did it have three wings, but also two fuselages, the upper one affording an air gunner a near 360-degree field of fire. Two gun positions were provided, one the nose and second behind the trailing edge of the wings, firing downwards through an aperture in the fuselage. The tail surfaces being supported between the fuselage and an upper boom attached to the centre section of the upper wing.
As this first machine did not come up to expectations on its trials, another machine was constructed in 1916, similar in general design, but embodying many modifications. This Triplane No.2 got the design study identification E.28. The 1916 version switched to four 200 hp (150 kW) Hispano Suiza engines, and a redesigned circular section fuselage. In both models the lower fuselage forms the main body, the upper fuselage being of much lighter construction and serving as an outrigger for the tail. The four Hispano-Suiza engines (220 h.p. each) are mounted in pairs in tandem, just below the middle plane in the 1916 model, on tubular V frames, extending from top to bottom planes. The engine mounting is additionally braced by diagonal struts from both upper and lower fuselages.
This time construction proceeded far slower as the machine was finished in 1919 and first flown in 1920. The design obviously came too late for the war and was not ordered in production.
1916 version
Engines: 4 × Hispano-Suiza V-8, 150 kW (200 hp)
Upper wingspan: 36 m (118 ft)
Wing area: 200 m2 (2,150 sq ft)
Chord: 6 ft. 6 in
Empty weight: 4,990 kg (11,000 lb)
Gross weight: 6,985 kg (15,400 lb)
Maximum speed: 127 km/h; 69 kn (79 mph) at 1981 metres (6500 ft)
Service ceiling: 3,505 m (11,500 ft)
Time to altitude: 27 minutes to 1981 m (6,500 ft)
Wing loading: 35 kg/m2 (7.1 lb/sq ft)
Crew: 3
The 1915 Type L.A.5 B2 two-place observation-bomber was powered by a 140 hp Salmson Canton-Unne pusher engine. After 1917 the 5 B2 was relegated to training.
Voisin L.A.5 Type V First Aerial Dogfight
The Voisin Type 8 was specifically designed as a bomber and manufactured 1916-1918. A three bay biplane, the wings are of mixed steel and wood construction, with fabric covering, and four wheel undercarriage. The cockpit nacelle is steel framed. Ailerons are on all four wings and the tail unit, consisting of rudder and elevators only, are carried on open steel booms.
The Peugeot engine drives a two blade pusher propeller. Fuel is held in streamlined tanks under the top wing. One or two machine-guns are mounted in the front cockpit and up to 396 lb of bombs.
When manufactured in February 1916, it was equipped as a night bomber, with internal bomb racks, cockpit lights, and provision for landing lights.
Continuous development, and the use of increasingly powerful engines, enabled it to remain in service throughout the war. The original version, the Type L, had a 70 hp Gnome engine and was unarmed.
The Voisin Type 8 entered service with French night bombing squadrons in November 1916.
Development was directed along two lines, producing night bomber and ‘Avion Canon’ versions. The latter mounting a 37mm or 47mm gun for use against ground targets.
The final version was the Type 10, with a 300 hp Renault engine and bombload of 600 lb.
A total of 1100 were built, mainly for us as bombers.
Type L
Engine: Gnome, 70 hp
Span: 55’9″
Voisin 5
Engine: Canton-Unne, 150 hp
Wingspan: 52 ft 4.5 in
Length: 31 ft 6.5 in
MTOW: 3240 lb
Speed: 74 mph
Ceiling: 1500 ft
Endurance: 3 hr 30 min
Crew: 2
Armament: 1 x mg
Bombload: 130 lb
LA.5 B2
Engine: 140 hp Salmson Canton-Unne
Wingspan: 48.35 ft
Length: 31.16 ft
Gross weight: 3080 lb
Speed: 62 mph
Voisin 5 LAS Canon
Engine: Salmson R9, 138 hp
Length: 31.824 ft / 9.7 m
Height: 9.514 ft / 2.9 m
Wingspan: 44.291 ft / 13.5 m
Wing area: 339.819 sqft / 31.570 sq.m
Max take off weight: 2513.7 lb / 1140.0 kg
Weight empty: 1719.9 lb / 780.0 kg
Payload: 793.8 lb / 360.0 kg
Max. speed: 65 kts / 120 km/h
Initial climb rate: 285.43 ft/min / 1.45 m/s
Service ceiling: 13123 ft / 4000 m
Wing load: 7.38 lbs/sq.ft / 36.00 kg/sq.m
Range: 216 nm / 400 km
Endurance: 4 h
Crew: 2
Voisin 8
Engine: Peugeot 8Aa, 220 hp
Wingspan: 18.0 m (59 ft)
Length: 10.4 m (34 ft)
Height: 4.0 m (13 ft)
Weight: Empty, 1,310 kg (2,888 lb)
Gross, 1860 kg (4,101 lb)
Airframe: Wood
Covering: Fabric
Seats: 2
Voisin 8
Engine: Peugeot 8Aa, 220 hp
Wingspan: 61 ft 8 in
Length: 36 ft 2 in
Height: 11 ft 6 in
Empty weight: 2893 lb
MTOW: 4103 lb
Max speed: 75 mph at 6000 ft
Service ceiling: 14,100 ft
Endurance: 4 hr
Type 10
Engine: 300 hp Renault
Bombload: 600 lb
A 1914 light bomber.
Engine: Canton-Unne, 120 hp
Wingspan: 48 ft 4.75 in / 14.75 m
Length: 31 ft 2 in / 9.6 m
Height: 12 ft 6 in / 3.8 m
Weight: 3025 lb / 1370 kg
Max speed: 74 mph / 120 kph at SL
Ceiling: 11,485 ft / 3500 m
Range: 310 mi / 500 km
Armament: 1 x mg
Crew: 2
Two identical pusher biplane machines, with Antoinette engines, had been built by the Voisin brothers for two early aviation pioneers, one for Léon Delagrange in March 1907, and the second for his friend and rival the Anglo-French pioneer Henry Farman (1874-1958) in October 1907.
Gabriel and Charles Voisin were among Europe’s leading pioneer aviators. Their classic 1907 pusher biplane was one of the most significant aircraft of the pre-World War I era. In 1912, they developed a military version. Thereafter they built aircraft almost exclusively for military contracts.
The Voisin 1912 Type, as it was referred to by the French military, also called the Type 1, launched the standard configuration of almost all Voisin aircraft throughout the war. The Voisin design philosophy was conservative. There were only slight, incremental design changes in the airframes during the war. Improvements principally consisted of installing more powerful engines, usually necessitating wings of greater span.
The 1909 Voisin tractor biplane was designed and built by Feres Voisin in France.
Span: 32’10”
Length: 29’6″
Voisin of the type used for the first officially recognised flight by a British pilot in Britain, which was made in April 1909 by J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon (later Lord Brabazon of Tara), flying his own Voisin named Bird of Passage.
Engine: One 50 h.p. Antoinette
Length 39 ft (12m)
Wing span 33 ft (10m)
Weight empty 1,100 lb (500 kg.)
Seats: 1.
Speed: 34 mph (55 kph)
Gabriel and Charles Voisin were among Europe’s leading pioneer aviators. Their classic 1907 pusher biplane was one of the most significant aircraft of the pre-World War I era. In 1912, they developed a military version. Thereafter they built aircraft almost exclusively for military contracts.
In September 1907 it hopped but in October it managed some flights.
Henry Farman made the first circular flight of one kilometer, and attained a speed of about a mile a minute, in 1908. In 1909 he accomplished a trip of nearly 150 miles, remaining four hours in the air. Farman was probably the first man to ascend with two passengers.
Voisin-50 Antoinette of Henri Farman
September 30, 1907- Starting with a Voisin-50 Antoinette similar to that built for Delagrange, Farman was successful in flying 30-80m. at Issy, his first flight.
October 15, 1907 – 285m., unofficially beating the Santos Dumont record of 220m. Subsequent principal pioneer flights were made as follows;
October 19, 1907 – 100m.
October 23, 1907 – 185m. in 15.4 secs., winning the first of the 150m. prizes of the A.C.F. Five others, longest 150m.
October 24, 1907 – Three flights 100m. or more.
October 25, 1907 – Six flights up to 190m.
October 26, 1907 – 770m. in 52.6 secs., a new OFFICIAL WORLD RECORD FOR DURATION AND DISTANCE, winning the Archdeacon Cup held by Santos Dumont and money prize of the A.C.F. for the first official flights of 300 and 500m. Seven other flights up to 400m. Other flights up to 400m. made following days. He also established speed record of 52.7 k.p.h.
November 9, 1907 – Twice beat previous record by flying 800 and 400m. and beginning to circle.
November 10, 1907 – 1,036m. in 1:14, complete circle and some short flights, continuing on eleventh. THIRD MAN TO FLY A KILOMETER, and first in Europe.
November 11, 1907-January 11, 1908 – Flights with circles continued almost daily, up to 700m. On January 11, 1908, he covered 1,800m. in 1:45. In January 1908 Henry Farman made the first circular flight of 1 km in Europe, to win a prize of 50,000 francs. On 30 October 1908 he made the first cross-country flight, from Chalons to Rheims, a distance of 16½ miles.
The improved HF1bis flew 16 miles in 20 minutes
Span: 35’5″
Length: 44’2″
Take-off weight: 1200 lb
HF1bis
Span: 35’5″
Length: 44’2″
Take-off weight: 1200 lb
Speed: 38 mph
All Aero 