Журнал Flight

Flight, January 10, 1914.

A NEW MILITARY VOISIN BIPLANE.

   ONE of the Voisin machines recently turned out by this historic aeroplane factory possesses several very interesting features, as the accompanying sketch will show. Like most of the Voisin machines of recent years, it is constructed for the greater part of steel. It is a biplane of the "headless" type, and differs from previous models in the method of carrying the tail. Instead of the usual two pairs of triangular outriggers from the main planes, two single outriggers or tail booms are employed. Each of these is attached to the centre of one of the rear plane struts on either side of the nacelle, and extends rearwards horizontally, or parallel to the line of flight. These tail booms, therefore, offer considerably less resistance than the triangular arrangement. Both tail booms are strongly braced to the main planes, whilst the struts carrying the former are also strengthened by a pair of diagonal cross-struts to the corresponding fore-struts. The rear extremities of the tail booms carry a single elevator tailplane, which in turn carries two pairs of vertical rudders that move bodily with the elevator. Each pair of rudders is divided into two and arranged above and below the elevator. Mounted in the centre of the lower main plane is the nacelle, which extends well in front of the main planes. The pilot and passenger are seated in separate cockpits in front of the nacelle - the pilot being behind - whilst in the rear is mounted the engine, a 200 h.p. Clerget, which drives the propeller by means of chain gear. The nacelle is supported by a very simple sprung chassis, similar to those on other Voisin machines, and there is also a pair of wheels mounted on the nose of the nacelle. Ailerons are employed for lateral balance, and the main planes are set at a slight dihedral angle. The span of the machine is 15 m., and the weight of the machine ready for the air is 1,300 kilos.
"VEE JAY."