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Voisin L

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Voisin L
Role Reconnaissance, Bomber, Trainer
Manufacturer Voisin
Anatra
Dux
Designer Gabriel Voisin
First flight 1912
Primary users Aéronautique Militaire
Aéronavale
Imperial Russian Air Service
Number built 70 (France)
400 (Russian Empire)
Developed into Voisin III

The Voisin L was a pusher biplane developed for the French Army's 1912 trials[1] where it performed successfully. About 70 were built in France[2] with around 400 manufactured under license in the Russian Empire.[3] The aircraft was the first in a series of military pusher biplanes from Voisin all of which had similar design characteristics.[1] During the early stages of World War I the aircraft were primarily used for reconnaissance.

The Voisin L was the only rotary engine powered aircraft designed by Gabriel Voisin. The official French military designation for aircraft powered by the Rhône 9C was the Voisin I while those fitted with the Gnome Monosoupape 7A were designated as the Voisin II. The rotary engine on the Voisin L drove a large two bladed wooden propeller via a reduction gearbox.[4]

Design

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The Voisin L had equal-span wings with no dihedral. A cruciform tail was attached to the wings with booms. A streamlined nacelle carried a pilot and observer in front with a single rotary engine at the rear.[1] Steel tubing was used throughout the structure making the Voisin-L a robust aircraft for its time-period.[5]

Voisin L floatplane 1915

Land-based versions of the aircraft featured a distinctive quadricycle landing gear. A floatplane version was produced with the quadricycle landing gear replaced with three flat bottomed pontoons.[1]

Voisin-Ls can be identified as they are the only model fitted with air-cooled rotary engines and so lacked the bulky radiators seen on later Voisin pushers which were powered by water-cooled Salmson 9, Peugeot 8Aa and Renault 12Fe aero-engines.[6]

Operational history

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At the start of World War I, Voisin L aircraft (types 1 and 2) were in service with four French squadrons. The aircraft were used for artillery observation and as daylight bombers.[5] Voisin-Ls were in front line service till 1915 when the French airforce was reorganized with production focused on a smaller number of dedicated types. One of the types selected for mass production was the Voisin III.[7]

In the Russian Empire, Voisin L aircraft were manufactured by Anatra in Odesa[8] and the Duk Factory in Moscow. Both manufacturers also license built Voisin III aircraft.[3][8] Voisin L aircraft remained in front line with the Imperial Russian Air Service into 1916.[9]

Variants

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Type 1 and 2 are designations applied retrospectively.[6] Contemporary names for the aircraft included the Voisin model 1912[1] and Voisin 13.5 meter.[10] In all cases Voisin L was the aircraft's factory designation.[1][4]

Operators

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 France
 Russia

Specifications (Type 1)

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Data from Renato[6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 (pilot and observer)
  • Length: 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 13.5 m (44 ft 3 in)
  • Height: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 42 m2 (450 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 825 kg (1,819 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,100 kg (2,425 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Le Rhône 9C rotary engine, 60 kW (80 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch pusher propeller driven at ~600 rpm (half the engine speed) via a gearbox[4]

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 95 km/h (59 mph, 51 kn)
  • Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in 11 minutes[11]

Armament

  • Bombs: Up to 59 kg (130 lb) carried inside the nacelle and dropped over the side by the observer[12]

See also

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Simons, Graham M (2019). "Hydro avions". Early French Aviation (1905-1930). Pen and Sword. ISBN 9781526758750.
  2. ^ Davilla, James J; Soltan, Arthur M (2002). French aircraft of the First World War. Flying Machines Press. p. 542. ISBN 9781891268090.
  3. ^ a b Blume, August G (2010). The Russian Military Air Fleet in World War I. Vol. 1 - A chronology 1910-1917. United States: Schiffer. pp. 297–298. ISBN 978-0764333514.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Pernet, Andre (January 1963). "La Premier Victorie Aerienne" [The first air victory]. Aviation (in French) (362): 46–47.
  5. ^ a b Ulanoff, Stanley M (1970). "Bomber and Reconnaissance Aircraft". Illustrated history of World War I in the air. United States: Arco Publishing. p. 135. ISBN 9780668017688.
  6. ^ a b c d e Pinto, Renato (1981). "Voisin L". Perfiles Historia De La Aviacion [History of aviation] (in Spanish). Vol. 1. Spain: Viscontea. pp. 65–72.
  7. ^ Sumner, Ian (2015). The Kings of the Air: French Aces and Airmen of the Great War. Pen and Sword. p. 41. ISBN 9781783463381.
  8. ^ a b Robinson, Antony (1979). "Wings for the Tzar". The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aviation. Vol. 1. United Kingdom: Marschal Cavendish. p. 57. ISBN 085685574X.
  9. ^ Kulikov, Victor (2013). "Aces of the 9th AOI". Russian Aces of World War 1. United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781780960609.
  10. ^ Opdycke, Leonard E (1999). French Aeroplanes before the Great War. United States: Schiffer Military History. p. 271. ISBN 0764307525.
  11. ^ "Naval and Military Aeronautics". The Aeroplane. United Kingdom. 22 January 1914. p. 86.
  12. ^ Taylor, John W. R. (1969). Combat aircraft of the world: from 1909 to the present. United Kingdom: Putnam. p. 131. LCCN 68-25459.
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