Hanriot HD.8 Single-Seat, Single-Engine Fighter Prototype

Specifications

Year: 1918
Status: Cancelled
Manufacturer(s): Hanriot - France
Production: 1
Capabilities: Fighter; Reconnaissance (RECCE); X-Plane;

Crew: 1
Length: 20.18 ft (6.15 m)
Width: 31.50 ft (9.6 m)
Weight (Empty): 1,058 lb (480 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 1,543 lb (700 kg)

Power: 1 x Le Rhone 9R 9-cylinder air-cooled rotary engine developing 180 horsepower and driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose.

Speed: 124 mph (200 kph; 108 kts)
Range: 249 miles (400 km; 216 nm)

Operators: France (cancelled)

The HD.8 was a single-seat, single-engine biplane fighter prototype drawn up by the Hanriot concern of France during the World War 1 period (1914-1918). It was used in conjunction with the new Le Rhone 9R series 9-cylinder, air-cooled rotary engine of 180 horsepower which resulted in only a single example of this aircraft being completed largely due to issues with the experimental powerplant. Flight testing of the completed form was had from March to April of 1918 - 1918 being the last year of the war. However, the troublesome engine never proved itself satisfactory which, in turn, resulted in an official end of the program.

As completed (and flown), the aircraft borrowed established biplane fighter qualities of pervious Hanriot designs that began with the HD.1 of June 1916 and evolved through the capable HD.3 of June 1917. A biplane wing configuration was used with the sole pilot positioned under and aft of the upper wing member. The engine drove a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose in typical fashion and a traditional tail-dragger undercarriage configuration was used for ground-running. Dimensions included an overall length of 20.1 feet and wingspan of 31.5 feet. Empty weight was 1,060lb against an MTOW of 1,520lb.

With its Le Rhone engine, the aircraft was tested at speeds reaching 125 miles-per-hour and could stay aloft for some two hours on internal fuel.

Armament

ASSUMED:
2 x 7.7mm Vickers Machine Guns in fixed, forward-facing mountings over the nose synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades.

Graphical image of an aircraft medium machine gun

Variants / Models

• HD.8 - Base Series Designation; single, flyable prototype completed.