HANRIOT HD-1

Historical Note:        Designed by Pierre Dupont, the Hanriot HD.1 biplane was small but agile. It was rejected by the French Air Service in late 1916 but found favor with the air services of Belgium and Italy, becoming the standard Italian fighter during World War I. Though not as fast as the Albatros scouts or the Hansa-Brandenburg D.I, it was sturdy, reliable and very maneuverable. Entering service during the summer of 1917, the HD.1 proved its worth throughout the war. On 26 December 1917, Italian pilots equipped with the Hanriot HD.1 engaged and destroyed eleven German reconnaissance aircraft at Istrana without incurring a single loss. Willy Coppens, Belgium's consummate balloon buster, scored most of his victories flying this aircraft.

The Hanriot HD.1 became the standard Italian fighter during World War I. It wasn’t as fast as the Albatros W-4 or Hansa-Brandenburg D-I but it was sturdier, more maneuverable and reliable. The said fighter aircraft was also used by the United States Air Service and the United States Navy. The U.S. Air Service used it as a trainer in France while the U.S. Navy used it on experiments.

Pilot Charles Nungesser used the Hanriot during the time he stopped flying the Nieuports. After the war he took one aircraft to United States and flew it in air shows with his marked, black heart insignia, on it. That particular aircraft was last flown in a show at Mines Field now known as Los Angeles International Airport. In 1960s, Ed Maloney rediscovered the aircraft on storage. Today, it is found in the Air Museum, Planes of Fame, in Chito, California. It still has the mark Nungersser placed on it.

Scale:    1:XX
W/S:     18.5       inches
Lgth:     13.0     inches

Item Number:    TMC-MXFBHD1                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Price:    $249.95