Voisin L

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Voisin L
Voisin L Gnome Engine.jpg
Role Reconnaissance, Bomber, Trainer
Manufacturer Voisin
Anatra
Dux
Designer Gabriel Voisin
First flight1912
Primary users Aéronautique Militaire
Aéronavale
Imperial Russian Air Service
Number built70 (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.

Contents

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 wooden prop via a reduction gearbox. [4]

Design

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 Voisin L floatplane Feb 1915.jpg
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

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

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

Flag of France (1794-1958).svg  France
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia

Specifications (Type 1)

Data fromRenato [6]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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