Charles Voisin was an early aviation pioneer. He was the younger brother of Gabriel Voisin

Gabriel Voisin

Gabriel Voisin was an aviation pioneer and the creator of Europe's first manned, engine-powered, heavier-than-air aircraft capable of a sustained , circular, controlled flight, including take-off and landing. It was flown by Henry Farman on January 13, 1908 near Paris, France...

, also an aviation pionieer.

Biography

Charles joined his brother in 1906 and the Appareils d'Aviation Les Frères Voisin ("Voisin Brothers' Flying Machines") 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

Léon Delagrange

Léon Delagrange Léon Delagrange Léon Delagrange (Ferdinand Léon Delagrange; March 13, 1873 was a pioneer French aviator and also a sculptor .He was born at Orléans and studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris...

 and was tested by Charles in February–April before being handed over to him. The first powered flight was made on 16 March 1907, when Charles flew for 10 metres at Neuilly-Bagatelle.

Voisins' aircraft became a significant advance in the aviation history. Record breaking flier Henri Farman flew a Voisin pusher biplane in most of his early flights, notably so when he became first in Europe to successfully complete a 1 km closed circuit at Issy-les-Moulineaux

Issy-les-Moulineaux

Issy-les-Moulineaux is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. On 1 January 2003, Issy-les-Moulineaux became part of the Communauté d'agglomération Arc de Seine along with the other communes of Chaville, Meudon, Vanves and Ville-d'Avray...

 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

Raymonde de LaRoche

Raymonde de Laroche , born Elise Raymonde Deroche, was a French aviatrix and the first woman in the world to receive an aeroplane pilot's licence.-Early life:...

was injured in the same accident.