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.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
Length
20.2 ft (6.15 m)
Width/Span
31.5 ft (9.60 m)
Empty Wgt
1,058 lb (480 kg)
MTOW
1,543 lb (700 kg)
Wgt Diff
+485 lb (+220 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Hanriot HD.8 production variant)
Installed:
1 x Le Rhone 9R 9-cylinder air-cooled rotary engine developing 180 horsepower and driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Hanriot HD.8 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
ASSUMED:
2 x 7.7mm Vickers Machine Guns in fixed, forward-facing mountings over the nose synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
HD.8 - Base Series Designation; single, flyable prototype completed.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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France (cancelled)
