Voisin VIII

Last updated
Voisin VIII/LAP/LBP
Voisin VIII NARA 17342123.jpg
Voisin LAP
RoleNight Bomber
Manufacturer Voisin
Designer Gabriel Voisin
First flight1916
IntroductionNovember 1916
Retired1918
Primary userFrance Aéronautique Militaire
Produced1916-1917
Number builtapprox 1,100 LAP & LBP built.
Developed from Voisin VII
Developed into Voisin X
37 mm Cannon installed on Voisin LBP Voisin VIII - "Henriette".jpg
37 mm Cannon installed on Voisin LBP

The Voisin VIII was a French two-seat biplane pusher which was built in two versions, one fitted with a 37mm Hotchkiss cannon (the LBP or Ca.2), and the other as a conventional bomber (the LAP or Bn.2). [1] Problems with the Peugeot engine led to a short operational career with front line units before being superseded by the Voisin X, which aside from the installation of a new Renault engine, was nearly identical to the VIII. [1]

Contents

Development

With the failure of the 1915 and 1916 bomber contests to produce any usable types to replace the Voisin V, Voisin was asked to produce an interim type pending the development of the next generation of bombers. [1] This was based partly on the preceding Voisin VII which was itself an enlarged V, but was to be powered by a larger engine as the VII was found to be underpowered, [2] and would dispense with the nose radiator, reverting to drag-inducing side radiators.

Two versions were to be built, a conventional bomber, and an aircraft armed with a large single shot 37mm Hotchkiss cannon as was used on the Voisin IV. [1] Initially it was thought the cannon would be used for air-air attacks and was officially designated a cannon fighter (Ca.2) however this was found to be unworkable as both bomber and fighter types were vulnerable to fighters as they were too slow and unmaneuverable but at least one enemy aircraft was destroyed with a single shot. As a result, a variety of other roles were attempted with it. Flying artillery, using indirect shots were impossible to aim accurately, balloon busting highlighted the type's vulnerability to anti-aircraft artillery fire, but some success was found with used in the ground attack firing directly at the target. Many had their cannons removed while in operational service but at least one was armed with additional machine guns. The LBP with the cannon had the pilot in the rear seat, while in the LAP, the pilot sat in the front seat, while the rear occupant could be equipped with a light machine gun such as a Lewis. On some aircraft, the observer's gun was mounted on a ring that was tilted to make movement forward easier against the wind. Unlike with the Voisin IV, installation of the cannon did not require that the top wing be staggered forward to maintain fore-aft balance.

Like the previous Voisins going back to the Voisin III, the Voisin VIII had a steel tube structure to provide adequate strength. Unusually for the period, and because it had no skid to drag it to a stop, it was equipped with drum brakes. [1] These were fitted to the rear wheels. Like the Voisin VII, the VIII was fitted with two large strut mounted teardrop fuel tanks that could be jettisoned in the event of a fire. [2] Due to problems with exhaust ventilation on the VII, the VIII and later types were fitted with tall individual exhaust stacks projecting above the top wing. [1]

Operational history

French service

By the start of 1917, the Voisin VIII made up the bulk of the Aviation Militaire's night bombing force [1] having gradually replaced the preceding Voisin V's and fully equipped two Groupes de Bombardment (GB 1 & GB 3) before the unreliability of their engines resulted in them being gradually replaced by French-built Sopwith 1½ Strutters and the higher powered Voisin Xs, and withdrawn to secondary units, which continued to operate them until the end of the war. [3] The l'Aéronavale/Aviation Maritime operated 20 Voisin VIIIs. [4]

American service

Based on the experiences of some Americans serving with these aircraft, the United States' American Expeditionary Force planned to field a single night bomber unit equipped with the Voisin VIII, however only a training unit was formed before the war ended. [4]

British service

The Royal Naval Air Service purchased two examples for trials work, one fitted with the cannon, and one of the bomber types, however no further examples were purchased. [4]

Variants

Voisin VIII
Voisin IX
Voisin X
Voisin XI

Operators

Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of the United States.svg  United States

Survivors/Aircraft on display

Specifications

Voisin 8/10 3 view plan Voisin 10 Bn.2 dwg.jpg
Voisin 8/10 3 view plan

Data fromFrench Aircraft of the First World War [22]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

Bréguet 14 French WW1 bomber aircraft

The Bréguet XIV or Bréguet 14 was a French biplane bomber and reconnaissance aircraft of World War I. It was built in very large numbers and production continued for many years after the end of the war.

Nieuport 17 French WW1 fighter aircraft

The Nieuport 17 C.1 was a French sesquiplane fighter designed and manufactured by the Nieuport company during World War I. An improvement over the Nieuport 11, it was a little larger than earlier Nieuports and better adapted to the more powerful engine than the interim Nieuport 16. Aside from early examples, it had the new Alkan-Hamy synchronization gear, permitting the use of a fuselage-mounted synchronised Vickers gun firing through the propeller disc.

Voisin III French WW1 bomber aircraft

The Voisin III was a French World War I two-seat pusher biplane multi-purpose aircraft developed by Voisin in 1914 as a more powerful version of the 1912 Voisin I. It is notable for being the aircraft used for the first successful shooting down of an enemy aircraft on October 5, 1914, and to have been used to equip the first dedicated bomber units, in September 1914.

Caudron R.4 French WW1 reconnaissance aircraft

The Caudron R.4 was a French World War I twin-engine biplane reconnaissance/artillery cooperation aircraft and the progenitor of a series of successful aircraft that filled a variety of roles with the French Aéronautique Militaire.

Voisin V French WW1 bomber aircraft

The Voisin V was a French pusher-type bomber aircraft of World War I.

Voisin (aircraft)

Aéroplanes Voisin was a French aircraft manufacturing company established in 1905 by Gabriel Voisin and his brother Charles, and was continued by Gabriel after Charles died in an automobile accident in 1912; the full official company name then became Société Anonyme des Aéroplanes G. Voisin. During World War I, it was a major producer of military aircraft, notably the Voisin III. After the war Gabriel Voisin abandoned the aviation industry, and set up a company to design and produce luxury automobiles, called Avions Voisin.

Caudron R.11 French WW1 fighter aircraft

The Caudron R.11, was a French three-seat twin-engine long range escort fighter biplane developed and produced by Caudron during the First World War.

Farman HF.20 French WW1 reconnaissance aircraft

The Farman HF.20 and its derivatives were a family of reconnaissance aircraft produced in France shortly before and during the First World War. It was a refined version of the Farman MF.11 "Shorthorn" that did away with the type's distinctive landing skids, and incorporated design features from Henri Farman's designs. It entered service with the French, Belgian and Serbian armies in 1913, and with the British RFC and RNAS shortly after the outbreak of war. The type was also licence-built in the UK by Airco and Grahame-White.

Letord Let.5 French WW1 reconnaissance bomber aircraft

The Letord Let.5 was probably the most numerous of a family of 3-seat reconnaissance bombers, designed and built in France from 1916, originally to an A3 specification from the STAé.

Morane-Saulnier T French WW1 bomber aircraft

The Morane-Saulnier T was a French biplane reconnaissance aircraft in 1916 and produced in small numbers during World War I.

Nieuport 14 French WW1 reconnaissance aircraft

The Nieuport 14 was a military reconnaissance sesquiplane produced in France during the First World War. The French Army deployed it in 1916 but the type was quickly withdrawn from front-line service.

Voisin Triplane French WW1 bomber aircraft

The Voisin Triplanes were large experimental bombers built by Voisin in 1915 and 1916. After unsuccessful trials of the 1915 prototype a modified version with more powerful engines was built in 1916, as the Voisin E.28, but the type did not enter production.

The Voisin VI or Voisin Type 6 was a French pusher biplane bomber aircraft of World War I.

Escadrille 103 Military unit

Escadrille 103 of the French Air Force was an elite aviation unit on the Western Front during World War I. One of its many aces, René Fonck was the highest scoring Allied fighter-pilot.

Voisin X French WW1 bomber aircraft

The Voisin X was a French two-seat pusher biplane which was built in two versions, one fitted with a 37 mm (1.46 in) Hotchkiss cannon, and the other as a conventional night bomber. Problems with the Peugeot engine in the previous Voisin VIII led to the installation of a new Renault engine of greater power and reliability, but the new aircraft was otherwise nearly identical to the VIII. Despite its obsolescence, it would make up the bulk of front line night bomber escadrilles until the end of the war.

The Dorand DO.1 was an armoured reconnaissance-bomber designed and built in France from 1913. A small number were used operationally as a stop-gap measure.

Voisin XII French WW1 bomber aircraft

The Voisin XII was a prototype French two-seat four-engine biplane bomber built near the end of the First World War but which did not enter service.

Voisin IV WWI French bomber aircraft

The Voisin IV was a French two-seat bomber and ground attack aircraft of World War I.

Paul Schmitt P.S.7 French WW1 bomber aircraft

The Paul Schmitt P.S.7 was a French World War I two-seat biplane bomber that dispensed with the novel variable incidence wing used on prior designs.

Nieuport 16 French WW1 fighter aircraft

The Nieuport 16 C.1 was a French World War I single-seat sesquiplane fighter aircraft, designed by Gustave Delage as a development of the Nieuport 11 with a more powerful engine. The Nieuport 16's service life coincided with the period when the first air-to-air rockets, the Le Prieur rocket, were used most frequently, and the type has a closer association with them than any other aircraft.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Davilla, p.559
  2. 1 2 Davilla, p.557
  3. Davilla, p.560
  4. 1 2 3 Davilla, p.561
  5. Albin, Denis. "Ecoles Avord". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  6. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 101". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  7. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 481". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  8. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 482". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  9. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 483". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  10. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 484". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  11. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 485". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  12. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 486". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  13. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 487". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  14. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 491". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  15. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 110". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  16. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 114". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  17. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 107". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  18. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 108". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  19. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 109". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  20. Albin, Denis. "Escadrille 113". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  21. Albin, Denis. "Centre de Aviation Maritime de Dunkerque". albindenis.free.fr. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
  22. Davilla, 1997, pages 557-561
  23. Hartmann, 2015, p.22
  24. "Voisin VIII Propeller, Fixed-Pitch, Two-Blade, Wood". airandspace.si.ed. Retrieved 23 Nov 2018.

Bibliography

Further reading