Anry Farman French aviation pioneer Date of Birth: 26.05.1874 Country: France

1. Biography of Henri Farman
2. Early Aviation Achievements
3. Farman Aviation Company
4. Notable Farman Aircraft
5. Later Life

Biography of Henri Farman

Henri Farman was a French aviation pioneer, athlete, and aircraft designer. He co-founded the Farman aviation factories with his brother Maurice. Born and raised in France, Henri Farman was the son of an English journalist who worked in Paris. After receiving an art education at the School of Fine Arts in Paris, Farman became fascinated with the technological advances of his time. He gained recognition in France as a sportsman, winning bicycle races and later becoming a racing driver for the Renault team. He even participated in the Gordon Bennett Cup races.

Early Aviation Achievements

In 1907, Farman purchased a plane designed by Gabriel Voisin and set several European records with it, although they were surpassed by the Wright brothers' achievements. He made his first flight on September 30, 1907. On January 13, 1908, Farman flew 1 kilometer on a closed circuit using a Voisin machine. On March 21, 1908, he completed a two-kilometer flight and became the first European passenger on an airplane piloted by Leon Delagrange. Farman made various improvements to the Voisin aircraft, including adding ailerons to the wings in October 1908. In October 1908, he completed a record-breaking flight from Châlons to Reims, covering a distance of 27 kilometers. In 1909, he further increased the record distance twice, reaching 180 and 232 kilometers.

Farman Aviation Company

The aviation company founded by Maurice and Henri Farman produced over 200 experimental and production models of aircraft during its thirty years of existence. However, their designs, which still relied on a pusher configuration, became outdated by 1914. As a result, they were no longer awarded major military contracts, which instead went to more advanced machines such as the Breguet, Nieuport, and SPAD. Until 1915, the licensed "Faramans" were the most common Russian-built aircraft, with over 1,500 units produced. However, most of them were decommissioned by 1918.

Notable Farman Aircraft

Among the notable aircraft designs by Farman are the Farman MF.7, a single-engine two-seat reconnaissance plane produced from 1913 to 1915, the Farman MF.11, a single-engine reconnaissance plane produced from 1914 to 1917, the Farman F.60 "Goliath," a two-engine heavy bomber and transport aircraft considered large for its time, produced from 1919 to 1921, the Farman F.121, a four-engine transport aircraft produced in 1923, and the Farman F.222, a twin-engine bomber produced from 1935 to 1938.

Later Life

In 1937, the Farman factories, along with most of the French aviation industry, were nationalized. Henri Farman did not return to the aviation industry after this.