Farman III
Henri Farman · France · first flew 1909 · light aircraft
The Farman III was a pioneering French biplane of 1909 that achieved several early aviation milestones, including the first circular flight of more than one kilometre. It was one of the most influential early aircraft designs in Europe.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | No enclosed fuselage — pilot sits on lower wing leading edge |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pioneer biplane pusher — open lattice tail boom structure
- Single pusher engine behind the pilot, forward elevator canard
- No enclosed fuselage — pilot sits on lower wing leading edge
Open lattice-boom pusher biplane with a forward elevator box, no enclosed fuselage structure, a single piston engine behind the pilot, and a forward-mounted skid undercarriage — unmistakably pioneer-era.
Specifications
- The Farman III has a length of 12 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10 m (33 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
Built by Henri Farman and first flown in 1909, the Farman III helped establish practical aviation in Europe and was widely copied. Farman used it to win the Grand Prix de la Champagne and set early endurance records. The pusher layout with a forward elevator gave the pilot a clear view and the design was sold and licensed to numerous purchasers, making it one of the most produced early aircraft.
Variants
Henri Farman produced a succession of related designs numbered sequentially; the type was also built under licence and copied without licence by numerous builders worldwide.
Where you'll see it
The Farman III and its derivatives were used by pioneer aviators across Europe and were among the first aircraft purchased by several early military air services for training and observation.
Related aircraft
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