The Voisin X (sometimes written as Voisin 10) was a French two-seat pusher

biplane A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...

which was built in two versions, one fitted with a Hotchkiss

cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...

(the LBR or X Ca.2), and the other as a conventional night bomber (the LAR or X Bn.2). Problems with the Peugeot engine in the previous

Voisin VIII The Voisin VIII was a French two-seat biplane pusher configuration, pusher which was built in two versions, one fitted with a 37mm Hotchkiss cannon (the LBP or Ca.2), and the other as a conventional bomber (the LAP or Bn.2).Davilla, p.559 Probl ...

led to the installation of a new Renault engine of greater power and reliability, but the new aircraft was otherwise nearly identical to the VIII.Davilla, p.557 Despite its obsolescence, it would make up the bulk of front line night bomber

escadrille A flight is a small military unit within the larger structure of an air force, naval air service, or army air corps; and is usually subservient of a larger squadron. A military aircraft flight is typically composed of four aircraft, though ...

s until the end of the war.

Development

With the failure of the 1915 and 1916 bomber contests to produce any usable types to replace the Voisin V, Voisin was asked to produce an interim type pending the development of the next generation of bombers.Davilla, p.559 This began with the Voisin VII which was itself an enlarged V, but was underpowered, and was soon followed by the Voisin VIII, which suffered severe reliability problems. As with the VIII, two versions were to be built, a night

bomber A bomber is a military combat aircraft designed to attack ground and naval targets by dropping air-to-ground weaponry (such as bombs), launching aerial torpedo, torpedoes, or deploying air-launched cruise missiles. The first use of bombs dropped ...

, and an aircraft armed with a large single shot Hotchkiss cannon. By the time the X appeared, the cannon had been found to be of little use and most of those built as LBR/Ca.2s were converted into bombers with the cannons removed. Those LBRs fitted with the cannon had the pilot in the rear seat, while in the LAR, the pilot sat in the front seat, while the rear occupant could be equipped with a light machine gun such as a

Lewis Lewis may refer to: Names * Lewis (given name), including a list of people with the given name * Lewis (surname), including a list of people with the surname Music * Lewis (musician), Canadian singer * "Lewis (Mistreated)", a song by Radiohead ...

. On some aircraft, the observer's gun was mounted on a ring that was inclined forward to make movement forward easier against the wind. Like the previous Voisins going back to the

Voisin III The Voisin III was a French World War I two-seat pusher biplane multi-purpose aircraft developed by Voisin in 1914 as a more powerful version of the 1912 Voisin I. It is notable for being the aircraft used for the first successful shooting down ...

, the Voisin VIII had a steel tube structure to provide adequate strength, covered with aluminium sheet on the fuselage nacelle and doped fabric on the flying surfaces. The fuselage was square in section, with no attempt at reducing drag. The 3-bay wings had a constant chord and square tips, and the top wings were slightly greater in span than the lower wings. The cruciform tail was mounted on booms which tapered in plan view to a vertical knife edge that formed the rudder post. The all-flying rudder and elevator were aerodynamically balanced and had no fixed surfaces. Unusually for the period, and because it had no skid to drag it to a stop, it was equipped with drum brakes on the rear wheels. Like the Voisin VIII, the X was fitted with two large strut mounted teardrop fuel tanks that could be jettisoned in the event of a fire. Also, as with the VIII, the X was usually fitted with tall individual exhaust stacks projecting above the top wing. Due to the change from a V-8 to a V-12 there were additional stacks, and some examples had a muffler installed. A small additional aerodynamic counterbalance was sometimes also added at the bottom of the rudder.

Operational history

French service

The first Voisin X's entered service with VB.114 in late 1917.Davilla, p.563 Due to their poor performance relative to contemporary fighters, when opposition was anticipated, operations were carried out at night. Voisin X's were used primarily as night bombers, attacking both strategic targets such as railyards, as well as carrying out tactical missions, such as suppressing enemy troop movements.Davilla, pp.564-566 7 Bombing Groups (''Groupes de Bombardment'') were formed for this purpose. Voisin X's were also used for night reconnaissance, for which 6 ''

s'' were specifically formed for this role.Davilla, pp.563-564 Beginning in July 1918, the Voisin began being supplemented by the

Farman F.50 The Farman F.50 was a French twin-engined night bomber designed and built by Farman as a replacement for the single-engined Voisin pusher biplanes in service with the French Air Force. Development The twin-engined F.50 flew for the first ti ...

in French front-line service, with surviving aircraft being transferred to newly created second line units, however examples remained in front line service until after the armistice.Davilla, p.565 Examples still equipped a number of units in 1920 but by then in the process of being wound down.

Aerochir

While the British and Americans experimented with aerial ambulances, carrying a single stretcher in a

Curtiss Jenny The Curtiss JN "Jenny" was a series of biplanes built by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of Hammondsport, New York, later the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. Although the Curtiss JN series was originally produced as a training aircraft for ...

Airco DH.4 The Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited (Airco) was an early British aircraft manufacturer. Established during 1912, it grew rapidly during the First World War, referring to itself as the largest aircraft company in the world by 1918. Air ...

, in France, a Voisin X was converted into a complete mobile flying hospital, the ''Aerochir'', complete with

X-ray machines An X-ray generator is a device that produces X-rays. Together with an X-ray detector, it is commonly used in a variety of applications including medicine, X-ray fluorescence, electronic assembly inspection, and measurement of material thickness ...

and other modern equipment for a full service operating room, so as to better support the mobile battlefield conditions created by the introduction of

tank warfare Armoured warfare or armored warfare (mechanized forces, armoured forces or armored forces) (American English; see spelling differences), is the use of armored fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of ...

Drone/autopilot

In 1918, a Voisin X made a fully automated 100 km flight without human assistance.de Fouchier, 1978, pp.1-4 A pilot was carried as a backup but wasn't found to be necessary. Four Sperry gyroscopes actuated electrical servo motors which controlled the flight surfaces and the engine throttle. During the flight, it changed altitude and direction multiple times, based on a preprogrammed course set with a series of switches. Testing resumed in 1923, for intended use as an auto-pilot.

Variants

;Voisin X *

Renault 12Fe Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufactured ...

**E.54 - factory designation for prototype **Voisin X Bn.2 - official designation for night bomber **Voisin X Ca.2 - official designation for cannon fighter **Voisin LAR - factory designation for X Bn.2 night bomber **Voisin LBR - factory designation for X Ca.2 armed with cannon ;Voisin XI *Development with

Panhard 12B Panhard was a French motor vehicle manufacturer that began as one of the first makers of automobiles. It was a manufacturer of light tactical and military vehicles. Its final incarnation, now owned by Renault Trucks Defense, was formed ...

c and minor changes to proportions but only around 10 built

Operators

; * ''Aéronautique Militaire'' **Night Reconnaissance *** Escadrille VR.290 (8th Escadrille 4th RAO postwar)Davilla, p.563 *** Escadrille VR.291Davilla, p.564 *** Escadrille VR.292 *** Escadrille VR.293 *** Escadrille VR.294 *** Escadrille VR.295 *** Escadrille VR.296 **Bombing ***''Group de Bombardment 1 (GB 1)'' **** Escadrille V.25 **** Escadrille VC.110 **** Escadrille VB.114 **** Escadrille VC.116 **** Escadrille VB.135 **** Escadrille VB.136 **** Escadrille VB.137 ***''Group de Bombardment 3 (GB 3)'' **** Escadrille VB.109 **** Escadrille VB.113 ***''Group de Bombardment 7 (GB 7)'' **** Escadrille VR.118 **** Escadrille VR.119 **** Escadrille VR.121 ***''Group de Bombardment 8 (GB 8)'' **** Escadrille VB.109 **** Escadrille VC.116 **** Escadrille VB.125 ***''Group de Bombardment 9 (GB 9)'' **** Escadrille VB.125 (briefly) ***''Group de Bombardment 10 (GB 10)'' **** Escadrille VB.101 **** Escadrille VC.116 **** Escadrille VB.133 ***''Group de Bombardment 51 (GB 51)'' **** Escadrille VB.135 **** Escadrille VB.136 **** Escadrille VB.137 **** scadrille VR.293 **''Théâtres d'Opérations Extérieurs (TOE)'' Overseas Theatres (mostly North Africa) *** Escadrille VR.541 *** Escadrille VR.542 *** Escadrille VR.543 *** Escadrille VR.547 *** Escadrille VR.551 *** Escadrille VR.552 *** Escadrille VR.553 *** Escadrille VR.554 *** Escadrille VR.555 *** Escadrille VR.556 *** Escadrille VR.557 *** Escadrille VR.558 *** Escadrille VR.571 ; * four examples used by 4 Letecka Setnina and Letecke Dilny, both at Cheb postwar.Davilla, p.566 ; *

American Expeditionary Force The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought alon ...

operated two examples as trainers in 1919.

Survivors/Aircraft on display

* Musée de l'air et de l'espace has a fuselage of a Voisin X/LBR equipped with a Hotchkiss cannon.

Specifications (Voisin X Bn.2/LAR)

References

Citations

Bibliography

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