Hanriot HD1 Aircraft History - World War One Aircraft

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Serial Number: 75
Historical Period: World War One
RAF Museum Collection Ref: 79/A/496
Location at RAF Museum: RAF Museum London, Grahame-White Factory

Aircraft History

The Hanriot HD-1 was a single-seat fighter that was designed in 1916 by Emile Dupont and built by the Societe anonyme des Appareils d'Aviation Hanriot at Billancourt. Because the SPAD 7.Cl had been adopted as the major standard French fighter the Hanriot was not accepted by the French Aviation Militaire, but it was used extensively by the Italian Aeronautica del Regio Esercito and by the Belgian Aviation Militaire.

Over nine-hundred were produced for the Italians and they used the type in greater numbers than any other fighter during World War One. Belgium had a more modest total of 125 HD-1s Notable air aces from both countries are associated with the HD-1 but perhaps Willy Copens is the most famous. This Belgian's final victory score was thirty-seven of which twenty-six were balloons.

Apart from a long post war service with the Italians and Belgians the HD1 was used by the Swiss Fliegertruppe until 1928

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