Charles Voisin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Voisin (b. Lyons, 1882; d. Belleville-sur-Saône, 26 September, 1912) was an early aviation pioneer. He was the brother of Gabriel Voisin and is represented in the photograph to the right. Although his elder brother is more famous in aviation it was actually Charles who flew first. On 16 March 1907 he flew for 10 metres at Neuilly-Bagatelle.[1]
Charles joined his brother in 1906[2] and Appareils d'Aviation Voisin Freres was formed. Their first successful plane was built in 1907. This machine, a pusher biplane powered by an " Antoinette" engine, was built for Leon Delagrange and was tested by Charles before being handed over to him. Charles did not fly again.[3] Record breaking flier Henri Farman also flew a Voisin pusher biplane in most of his early flights, notably so when he became first in Europe to successfully complete a 1km closed circuit at Issy-les-Moulineaux on January 13,1908. Charles Voisin was present on the ground during this historic flight.
Charles Voisin was killed in an automobile accident on 26 September, 1912 near Belleville-sur-Saône. The early woman aviator Baroness de Laroche was injured in the same accident.[3].
