Hanriot HD.1
Hanriot · France · first flew 1916 · fighter
The Hanriot HD.1 was a World War I French single-seat fighter biplane noted for its agility and pleasant handling, though paradoxically it was adopted by Italy and Belgium rather than France, whose Aéronautique Militaire preferred the SPAD VII and XIII. It became the primary fighter of the Italian and Belgian air services.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.85 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI French single-seat biplane fighter with rotary engine
- Widely used by Italian and Belgian air services rather than France
- Clean, nimble biplane with rounded wingtips and circular engine cowling
A small, neatly proportioned biplane fighter with a rotary engine under a circular cowling, rounded wingtips, and a simple fixed undercarriage — similar to the Nieuport 17 but with a more symmetrical wing arrangement.
Specifications
- The Hanriot HD.1 has a length of 5.85 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.7 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 184 km/h (114 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Pierre Dupont for Hanriot, the HD.1 first flew in 1916 and was rejected by France in favour of the SPAD, but Italy ordered it in large numbers and it equipped most Italian fighter squadrons through 1917–18. Belgian pilots also flew it with distinction on the Western Front.
Variants
The HD.2 was a floatplane derivative; the HD.1 itself had minor engine variants using different Nieuport or Le Rhône rotaries.
Where you'll see it
Primary fighter of the Italian Corpo Aeronautico Militare and the Belgian Aviation Militaire in 1917–18; not significantly used by France operationally.
Related aircraft
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