Voisin Canard
Voisin Frères · France · first flew 1911 · light aircraft
The Voisin Canard was a 1911 experimental aircraft by the Voisin brothers that adopted the canard (foreplane) configuration, placing a horizontal stabiliser ahead of the main biplane wing rather than at the tail. This made it one of the earliest canard-layout aircraft in aviation history.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.92 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Canard-configuration biplane with foreplane and no rear tail
- Pusher propeller behind a box-cell biplane wing
- Open nacelle with the pilot forward of the wing — one of the earliest canard aircraft
The distinctive foreplane ahead of the main biplane cell and the absence of a rear tail immediately identify this as a canard; combined with the Voisin pusher engine layout, its silhouette is entirely distinctive from contemporary tail-aft designs.
Specifications
- The Voisin Canard has a length of 7.92 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.19 m (40 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 90 km/h (56 mph).
- Typical crew: 1–2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Gabriel Voisin experimented with the canard layout in 1911 as an alternative to the conventional tail-aft arrangement that characterised his earlier successful pusher biplanes. The canard configuration offered theoretical advantages in stability and pitch control, though it presented practical challenges that limited its adoption. The Voisin Canard was evaluated but did not enter production.
Variants
The Canard was a one-off experimental type; the Voisin brothers continued with conventional tail-aft designs for their production aircraft.
Where you'll see it
The Voisin Canard was used only for experimental purposes and did not enter commercial or military service.
Related aircraft
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