TVAL have recently registered a new aircraft in their collection, a Hanriot HD.1 'ZK-EAY'. A public debut must be not far away, perhaps the next airshow on 22 Feb?
For those forumites who are unaware of the background of this aeroplane, here is a great article by WarbirdsNews on MARCH 3, 2013 in AVIATION MUSEUM NEWS
http://www.warbirdsnews.com/avaition-museum-news/rafm-trades-vintage-reproduction-aircraft.htmlThe RAF Museum (RAFM) has recently traded a pair of their vintage aircraft, a Hanriot H.D.1 and a Farman F.40 for Vintage Aviator Ltd. reproductions of the Sopwith Snipe, Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 and an Albatros D.Va with a collector in New Zealand.
All three of the reproduction aircraft are now on display at the RAF Museum’s London branch, with the R.E.8 and Albatros on display at the Grahame-White Hangar, while the Sopwith Snipe presently resides in the Milestones of Flight Hall.
The Hanriot H.D.1, c/n 75, was acquired by the RAFM in airworthy condition in December 1978, and had been on display at the London branch since December 1979, wearing the original 1e Escadille de Chasse, Belgian Flying Corps markings it wore while it was based at Les Moores, Belgium in September 1918.
The Farman, F-HMFI, had been in storage for more than 55 years, most recently at the RAF Museum’s Cosford branch. Built at Buc, near Versailles in 1913, the aircraft was the prototype F.40, a joint design by Henri and Maurice Farman. After the First World War it had several owners in France, being flown at various air shows until being acquired by R.G. Nash in 1936 when it joined his famous Nash Collection.
While some eyebrows might be raised by the trade of genuine vintage aircraft for reproductions, A spokesman from the RAFM put it fairly succinctly: “From a curatorial perspective the museum is exchanging artifacts which have no connection with the history of the RAF with ones incorporating extensive original material that significantly enhance the collection, and greatly assist in interpretation of the RAF’s early history – particularly as we approach the First World War Centenary.”
Earlier history:
This is a rare, genuine HD.1 (Serial No. 75) in the restored Grahame-White Factory section of the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon. Used by 1 em Escadrille de Chasse, Aviation Militaire Belge, according to RAF sources it was flown post-war at an international aerobatics championship at Nice, France in March 1922, by no less than Willy Coppens, who despite having lost most of his left leg during the war, strapped his other leg to the rudder bar – and won! It was disposed of in 1934, being put on the Belgian Register as OO-APJ. When the aircraft was seen in a dilapidated state by no-less a person than Richard Shuttleworth, he purchased it for just £15, and registered it as G-AFDX. Restored to flight status, it flew until a 1939 landing accident at Old Warden. Following the death of Richard Shuttleworth during the war, the stored remains were exported to the U.S.A. in 1962, where it was restored, and flown once more.
In 1978, the aircraft was donated to the RAF Museum, Hendon and completely re-built at the Museum’s Restoration Centre at Cardington. Initially displayed in the main museum building at Hendon, (between the SE.5a and Westland Wallace, if I remember correctly), when the magnificent Grade II* Listed Building, the Grahame-White Factory, was restored on the Hendon site, the Hanriot was moved in there along with the bulk of the World War One collection.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/19/1167871/-Hanriot-HD-1-a-stranger-in-a-strange-land#More news and photos to come in a month or so . . .
