Voisin VIII
Voisin · France · first flew 1916 · bomber
The Voisin VIII was a French First World War night bomber biplane, one of the middle marks in the long-running Voisin bombing aircraft series, equipped with a Peugeot inline engine driving a pusher propeller.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- French WWI pusher biplane bomber with Peugeot inline engine
- Crew nacelle ahead of the engine with twin tail booms
- Voisin's characteristic boxy biplane tail supported by twin booms
Almost identical in general layout to the Voisin X but slightly narrower-span; the engine type (Peugeot versus Renault) is the primary differentiator, with minor cowling differences.
Specifications
- The Voisin VIII has a length of 10.35 m (34 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18 m (59 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 118 km/h (73 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in 1916, the Type VIII brought a more powerful Peugeot engine to the Voisin pusher formula, improving payload and range modestly over earlier marks. It operated primarily at night to avoid German fighters that the slow pusher layout could not outrun.
Variants
Preceded by Types VI and VII, followed by Types IX and X with progressively more powerful engines.
Where you'll see it
Used by the French Aéronautique Militaire for night bombing on the Western Front from 1916 to 1917.
Related aircraft
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