Hanriot HD.3
Hanriot · France · first flew 1917 · fighter
The Hanriot HD.3 was a French single-seat fighter biplane designed toward the end of World War I to compete with the dominant SPAD XIII. Although it showed good performance in trials, it was not selected for large-scale production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.95 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Late WWI French sesquiplane fighter
- Single rotary engine with small lower wing sesquiplane layout
- Compact biplane fighter competing with the SPAD XIII
A compact sesquiplane fighter with a dominant upper wing and noticeably smaller lower wing, a cowled rotary engine, and an overall silhouette more refined than the Nieuport types it sought to replace.
Specifications
- The Hanriot HD.3 has a length of 6.95 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 192 km/h (119 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by René Hanriot's firm, the HD.3 first flew in 1917 and was evaluated by the French Aéronautique Militaire. It featured a sesquiplane layout with a noticeably smaller lower wing, giving good downward visibility. Despite competitive performance, the established SPAD XIII production line was preferred and the HD.3 was not ordered in significant numbers.
Variants
Several prototype variants with different engine fits were tested; no mass production.
Where you'll see it
Evaluated by the French military but not adopted for operational squadrons; a small number may have served in a limited capacity.
Related aircraft
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