W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

HANRIOT HD.7 France

   Designed as a potential successor for the SPAD S.XIII, the HD.7 single-seat fighter employed wings and tail surfaces essentially similar to those of the two-seat HD.3. Flown for the first time in the summer of 1918, the HD.7 was powered by a water-cooled Hispano-Suiza 8Fb eight-cylinder engine of 300 hp and mounted an armament of two 7,7-mm synchronised Vickers machine guns. The performance of the HD.7 proved good, but marginally inferior to that of its principal competitor for production orders, the Nieuport 29. With selection of the latter for series manufacture, further development of the HD.7 was discontinued.

Max speed, 135 mph (218 km/h).
Time to 16,405 ft (5 000 m), 19.3 min.
Range, 559 mis (900 km).
Empty weight, 2,712 lb (1230 kg).
Loaded weight, 4,189 lb (1 900 kg).
Span, 32 ft 1 5/8 in (9,80 m).
Length, 23 ft 7 1/2 in (7,20 m).
Height, 9 ft 10 in (3,00 m).
Wing area, 301.39 sq ft (28,00 m2).


HANRIOT HD.8

   The HD.8 single-seat fighter was designed for the experimental Le Rhone 9R nine-cylinder air-cooled rotary engine and commenced flight testing in March-April 1918. Apparently, the HD.8 was plagued by various problems, mostly stemming from its power plant, and, as a result, was never submitted by its manufacturer for official testing. No illustrations of the HD.8 seem to have survived. The following data are based on manufacturer’s estimates.

Max speed, 124 mph (200 km/h) at 13,125 ft (4 000 m).
Endurance, 2hrs.
Empty weight, 1,058 lb (480 kg).
Loaded weight, 1,521 lb (690 kg).
Span, 31ft 5 7/8 in (9,60 m).
Length, 20 ft 2 1/8 in (6,15 m).
Wing area, 269.1 sqft (25,00 m2).