Hanriot HD.2
Hanriot · France · first flew 1917 · fighter
The Hanriot HD.2 was a biplane floatplane fighter produced in France during the First World War and used afterwards to test launching aircraft from warships.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay staggered biplane with wings of unequal span
- Twin-pontoon floatplane undercarriage
- Small third pontoon under the tail on the prototype
It had a Clerget 9B rotary engine and two fixed forward-firing .303 Vickers machine guns. The staggered wings are of unequal span.
Specifications
- The Hanriot HD.2 has a length of 7 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.51 m (28 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 182 km/h (113 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The design was based on the HD.1 but was a purpose-built floatplane, with larger tail surfaces and a shorter wingspan with greater area. The prototype's third pontoon under the tail was discarded on production machines.
Variants
The HD.2C had a wheeled undercarriage, with 10 built for the US Navy and two converted by the French Navy. The HD.12, HD.27 and H.29 were other developments, the H.29 being a pair built in 1924 for launching from a warship.
Where you'll see it
It was developed as an interceptor to defend flying boat bases, then used as an escort for French reconnaissance flying boats. French and US navies used it in early experiments in launching fighters from warships, such as from the battleship Lorraine in 1924, which failed.
Related aircraft
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