Voisin 3

The Voisin 1 and 2 were clearly underpowered, but an experiment mounting the 120hp Salmson radial engine proved to be a great boon. The nacelle was strengthened to support the larger engine and changed to all-metal and the undercarriage was strengthened to handle the load while landing. The gunner worked from the rear seat using machine gun mounts over the pilot's head and at the leading edge of the upper wing. It was also known as the Voisin LA. The Voisin 3 found its niche as a bomber, and through 1915 Voisin 3's in army cooperation escadrilles were replaced with Farmans and Caudrons so that Voisins could be concentrated in bombing units. By early 1916 they were being replaced by the Voisin 5, a process that was complete by mid-spring.

When the war started, two of the 23 French escadrilles were Voisin 3 units.

Belgium purchased 12-15 Voisin 3s and sent them to Esc. 6 and 3 until they were replaced by Farman F.40s in late 1916. Italy bought several before deciding to produce more than one hundred of their own, with deliveries beginning in early 1916, where they equipped 5ª, 7ª/27ª, 25ª, and 37ª squadriglias, serving through 1917. Romania obtaind eight in 1915 where they served through late 1916. Russia purchased around eight hundred and built four hundred of their own and they saw wide use throughout the war, including many built by Dux. They were used by Ukraine and the Don Cossacks during the Russian Civil War. The UK purchased or manufactured several dozen but did not send them into active service.

One Type 3 scored the first French air victory on 5 Oct 1914, when a Voisin 3 brought down a German Aviatik near Rheims.

(One French source assigns the "Type LA" tag to the 130hp Salmson Canton-Unné-powered Voisin, with over 1000 built, while assigning the "Type 3" nomenclature to the 150hp-powered Voisin, with few built. )

Card Links

 * Italian 7ª Squadrilia
 * Italian 7ª Squadrilia
 * French
 * French
 * Belgian
 * Belgian

Aircraft Chart

1:144 Scale

 * Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory, wow

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

 * Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory