Voisin 1907 Biplane
Voisin Frères · France · first flew 1907 · light aircraft
The Voisin 1907 biplane was the first genuinely successful European powered aircraft, combining a pusher engine, Hargrave boxkite wing cells and open lattice tail booms into a configuration that Henri Farman flew to the first European heavier-than-air flight exceeding one minute in November 1907.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.45 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- European pioneer pusher biplane with boxkite Hargrave-style wing end-plates
- Pusher engine behind crew between the wings, open lattice tail booms
- First European heavier-than-air flight exceeding 1 minute flown by Henri Farman, November 1907
The distinctive rectangular boxkite end-plates at the wingtips, pusher engine between the wings, and open-lattice tail booms make this one of the most visually distinctive pioneer aircraft in history.
Specifications
- The Voisin 1907 Biplane has a length of 13.45 m (44 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.8 m (35 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Built by Gabriel and Charles Voisin in Paris, the biplane was purchased and improved by Henri Farman, who used it to win the Archdeacon Prize on 13 January 1908 with the first circular kilometre flight in Europe. The type was produced in small numbers and established the Voisin pusher formula that persisted through the WWI bomber series.
Variants
Multiple customer aircraft were produced to similar specifications; the Farman-modified example differed from the standard Voisin in several details including aileron addition.
Where you'll see it
The Voisin 1907 biplane served pioneering aviators across Europe; its military significance was indirect, establishing the pusher configuration that became central to early French air power.
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