Farman HF.20

Farman Aviation Works · France · first flew 1913 · fighter

The Farman HF.20 was an early French pusher biplane widely used in the first years of World War I for reconnaissance and as an early gun platform. Its pusher configuration gave the observer/gunner a clear forward field of fire.

Recognition (WEFT)

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Spot it by:

• Pre-WWI pusher biplane with front nacelle
• Twin tail booms with rear-mounted pusher engine
• Open-frame pusher configuration typical of early Farmans

Unmistakable pusher biplane with a crew nacelle perched at the front of the lower wing, twin tail booms extending aft, and no conventional fuselage — a classic 'Farman' silhouette.

Specifications

• The Farman HF.20 has a length of 8.06 m (26 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 13.65 m (45 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 165 km/h (103 mph).
• Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The HF.20 series was built by Henri Farman and entered service with the French Aviation Militaire and the RFC from 1913 onward. The pusher layout allowed mounting a machine gun in the nose nacelle, making it one of the first practical armed aircraft. It was progressively replaced by more capable types from 1915.

Variants

The HF.20 was one of several variants in the Farman pusher series; related types included the MF.7 Longhorn and MF.11 Shorthorn.

Where you'll see it

Operated by France, Britain, and several other Allied nations in the early years of WWI for reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and limited bombing.

Related aircraft

• Farman MF.11 Shorthorn
• Farman F.60 Goliath
• Farman F.61 Goliath
• Farman F.68 Goliath
• Fokker M.3
• Fokker M.5
• Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8
• Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.2

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