Dufaux 4
Armand and Henri Dufaux · Switzerland · first flew 1910 · light aircraft
The Dufaux 4 was a Swiss pioneer biplane designed by brothers Armand and Henri Dufaux, first flown on 17 December 1909. It is best known for Armand Dufaux's flight across Lake Geneva on 28 August 1910 — a 66 km nonstop crossing in 56 minutes 5 seconds that won a CHF 5,000 prize.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pioneer Swiss biplane — preserved at Swiss Transport Museum, Lucerne
- Equal-span rectangular two-bay wings with wire bracing
- Flew Lake Geneva crossing 28 August 1910 — 66 km nonstop
A typical Edwardian-era pusher or tractor biplane with two equal-span rectangular wing panels and wire bracing; the Swiss origin and Lake Geneva association are its primary distinguishing characteristics.
Specifications
- The Dufaux 4 has a length of 9.5 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.5 m (28 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 60 km/h (37 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Lake Geneva crossing was the longest overwater flight yet accomplished in Europe at the time and demonstrated the growing reliability of early aircraft. The Dufaux brothers were primarily helicopter pioneers; the Dufaux 4 was their most successful fixed-wing design. The original aircraft is preserved at the Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne.
Variants
A single primary aircraft; the brothers also built earlier experimental designs.
Where you'll see it
Used solely for record-setting and demonstration flying; Switzerland had no military aviation at the time.
Related aircraft
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