Voisin Canard
The French Canard Voisin Hydro was the naval variant of the ducks aircraft Canard Voisin of 1909.
History
The Voisin Canard Hydro became the first seaplane of the French Navy and was a naval reconnaissance, among others also in Russia use. Gabriel and Charles Voisin bought some 1910 aircraft float by Henri Fabre. He was the builder of the first seaplane in the world, the Hydravion. He put the float under the country version Voisin Canard. The machine had four Fabre floats and 6 wheels. In October 1910, the first flight on the Seine at Billancourt was.
From 24 to March 31, 1912 captured two hydro Voisin Canard at the seaplane meeting in Monaco in part. The pilots were Colliex Maurice and Paul Rugère.
Aircraft carrier Foudre
By remodeling the torpedo cargo spaces in hangars, created in 1912 by order of the French Navy from the minelayer Foudre, the first aircraft carrier in the world. The aircraft themselves were put to use by crane onto the water surface and hauled back on deck after use.
On November 29, 1911, the first naval air base in Fréjus Saint- Raphaël was formed. The Foudre was it rebuilt in Toulon. The Voisin Canard Hydro was acquired in December 1911 by the Navy and transferred to the upgraded Foudre on 15 April 1912 to Fréjus Saint- Raphaël. After testing with the Voisin Canard Hydro began.
Throughout the summer, made test flights; this was the Voisin Canard Hydro badly damaged in August 1912. It was followed by a modified version with a 100 hp Gnome - Rhone radial engine. The plane stood in competition with two 80 hp Nieuport - water aircraft and a 130 hp Breguet U -1.