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NASM Voisin VIII question


Junchan

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What is this object under the each lower wing of the Voisin VIII on display at the NASM?

https://rara.jp/image_view/3b9ffa96cf7f97e19827f3a75dd69c4c/1005559048

 

A landing flare like the Holt landing flare?

https://rara.jp/image_view/224834f0f3613fa8d817f36b21647b9b/1005560274

Or a parachute flare like this?

https://rara.jp/image_view/9ff46fa46b6d7b7ecc17051e052e65a1/1005559050

Jun in Tokyo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/horaburo/albums

Edited by Junchan
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1 hour ago, Paul Thompson said:

Not seeing the pictures, just a label that says 'spacer.png' , three times.

 

Paul.

Links fixed.

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Thanks.  I was about to pontificate based on the Windsock Datafile, then realised it was an VIII, which I'd misread as III, because that area looks entirely different. That said, it doesn't look like a flare mounting of any sort I've seen before,  Flare holders I've seen are normally mounted towards the front of the wing, anyway. Doesn't rule it out of course, especially for odd designs like the Voisin series where there was a lot of experimentation and improvisation in the field. I suppose it just might be the attachment for some sort of bomb carrier or dart dispenser. There appear to be springs or toggles at the top that have to be there for a reason. I await the appearance of a more learned soul ..........................

 

 

Paul.

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  • 4 weeks later...

I made an enquiry directly to the National Air and Space Museum, and got a answer from them but still the mystery has not solved.

Here's their reply to my question:

"According to the curator of the aircraft, that item on the Voisin has always puzzled us. The Voisin was transferred to the Smithsonian from U.S. War Department in September 1918, even before the war was over, and that item was on the airplane at that time. When restoration was done on the aircraft in 1989 to 1991 we retained it on the airplane, even though we weren't sure what it is. We believe it was legitimately part of the airplane during its service. Hope this information is helpful!"

Any further information or opinion will be appreciated.

 

Jun in Tokyo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/horaburo/albums

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18 minutes ago, Paul Thompson said:

Oh, well that's interesting anyway. Thanks for making the enquiry. I'll drop a line to Ray Rimell. He may not know what it is, but may well know someone who does.

 

Paul.

Thanks Paul, I hope Ray or any of Windsock lovers may have some info.

Jun in Tokyo

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Jun, I had a reply from Ray, and he doesn't know. What's more, he has Harry Woodman's accumulated notes on Voisins, and can't see anything there either. Not for flares, and not landing lights lights is about all he's sure of.

 

The only avenue I can think of to follow is to find out if the bits of wire you can see at the top of each of the 3 columns are toggles, spring clips, or remnants of electrical wiring. Frustrating.

 

Paul.

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Oh, interesting!

I guess to have clue.

I need an overall pic or scetch to get further. With position on the item in question.

The duty of the a/c in question was?

Stationed where? Any info?

Happy modelling 

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Ok

I searched all pics on the web, I found in a short time.

No operational aircraft shows this item.

But, they show bomb facilities like German aircraft which have a fairing.

So, maybe a utility to carry little anti-personal bombs, like pencils?

Or smoke generators?

The suspension and rigging of this item I miss on the photos! This is in opposition to my clue.

 

Happy modelling 

 

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I found these photos of a Voisin 8, s/n V1817 taken at the Aviation Experiment Station, Langley Field on 18 June 1917.

 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Voisin_VIII

Some sources says that the serial number of the Smithsonian's Voisin 8 is V1718. If this info is true, the mystery items were not the original equipment, but someone would have added them to V1718 before it was transferred to the Smithsonian in September 1918.

The mystery deepens.

Jun in Tokyo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/horaburo/albums

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  • 1 month later...

I am going to take a wild guess.  The device is designed to be aerodynamic. If smooth air is flowing over and under the wing it will hang right there and look stable from the cockpit.  But if turbulent air develops along the wing the devise would no longer hang steady.  I suspect this may have been an early attempt at a stall warning device. As turbulence would build up along the wing the pilot could look and see this device swinging or spinning around.  I suspect these tended to fly slightly above stall speed so it would be critical if trying to gain altitude to keep it out of a stall.  Worse, since this was a wing warper it would be very easy for only one wing to stall and you would end up in a spin.  What I can not tell from the picture is if this could actually move around.  I have a second guess if those are actually electric wires attached to the device.  If they are then it could be a crude RDF mounted out on the wing to avoid radio interference from the engine.

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