J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)

Voisin 7 A2 (LC)

  Gabriel Voisin decided that he need to produce a more powerful airplane to carry a heavier bomb load over longer distances. He began by designing a sturdier airframe to accept a larger engine. The new airplane was experimentally fitted with a Salmson P9 or R9 engine and a variety of 150- to 180-hp Renaults. Eventually two types were fitted to the new Voisins: the 180-hp Renault 8G and the 150-hp Salmson P9. However, only a few Voisin 7s received the Salmsons and only the Renault-engined aircraft were used operationally.
  The new Voisin was intended for service with the reconnaissance and bombing escadrilles. It had a machine gun on a flexible mount in the nose that greatly increased the gunner's field of fire. Radiators for the Renault engine were attached to either side of the fuselage just ahead of the crew cabin. The wing span was enlarged. It was the first Voisin type to feature detachable fuel tanks attached to the wings. These could be jettisoned in an emergency to reduce the risk of losing the aircraft if fire broke out.
  The Type 7, however, was felt to be too underpowered to carry an adequate bomb load; it was used only by army cooperation escadrilles. Only about 100 Type 7s were produced and were primarily assigned to T.O.E. units; for example, Voisin 7s served with V 83 and V 84, which were stationed with the A.P.O. (see the section on the Voisin 5 for further details).
  Serbia acquired some Voisin 7s when the equipment of V 384 (previously V 84) was turned over to the Serbian air service in 1917. The new unit was redesignated Escadrille 522.


Voisin 7 Army Cooperation Airplane with 180-hp Renault 8G
   Span 17.93 m; length 10.35 m; height 3.95 m; wing area 61.14 sq. m
   Empty weight 1,250 kg; loaded weight 1,700 kg
   Maximum speed: 112 km/h at 2,000 m; climb to 2,000 m in 18 min 30 sec; endurance 2.3 hours
   Armament: one machine gun on a flexible mount in the nose
   Approximately 100 built

Voisin 7 Army Cooperation Airplane with 160-hp Salmson X9
   Span 17.93 m; length 10.35 m; height 3.95 m; wing area 61.14 sq. m
   Empty weight 1,250 kg
   One built