![Alphonse de Ridder and his family seated in a dual-control Voisin pusher type [France, ca. 1910] | by Kees Kort Collection](http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54254481744_217f387551.jpg)
Alphonse de Ridder and his family seated in a dual-control Voisin pusher type [France, ca. 1910]
The Voisin brothers in France were early to contruct a dual control version of their Voisin biplane pusher model (probably the 1910 - 1911 version). They realized that the teaching method till the introduction of dual control was less than ideal. A pupil had some ground lessons, taxiing around the airfield, till the great moment when he could takeoff all alone. Possibly an instructor was sometimes in a rear seat but he was unable to correct things ! Around this time (1910 - 1911) the dual control side by side were also introduced in Wright and Curtiss pusher biplanes.
To accommodate two persons with a steering wheel side by side the fuselage (nacelle) was widened considerably. The engine fitted is a water-cooled V-8 engine, maybe a Renault. Due to the wide body of the fuselage the radiator is also of an extra size.
When looking at the two steering wheels it appears that they are seperated from each other. The ionstructor - here de Ridder - has handles which he could operate with his right hand to switch control of the steering wheel.
Alphonse de Ridder (of Belgian birth) was the chief instructor at the Voisin flying school.
Alphonse de Ridder and his family seated in a dual-control Voisin pusher type [France, ca. 1910]
The Voisin brothers in France were early to contruct a dual control version of their Voisin biplane pusher model (probably the 1910 - 1911 version). They realized that the teaching method till the introduction of dual control was less than ideal. A pupil had some ground lessons, taxiing around the airfield, till the great moment when he could takeoff all alone. Possibly an instructor was sometimes in a rear seat but he was unable to correct things ! Around this time (1910 - 1911) the dual control side by side were also introduced in Wright and Curtiss pusher biplanes.
To accommodate two persons with a steering wheel side by side the fuselage (nacelle) was widened considerably. The engine fitted is a water-cooled V-8 engine, maybe a Renault. Due to the wide body of the fuselage the radiator is also of an extra size.
When looking at the two steering wheels it appears that they are seperated from each other. The ionstructor - here de Ridder - has handles which he could operate with his right hand to switch control of the steering wheel.
Alphonse de Ridder (of Belgian birth) was the chief instructor at the Voisin flying school.