History of Airplanes

June 4, 1910 – a sixteen year boy, Marcel Hanriot, takes off in a graceful aeroplane designed by his father, Rene Hanriot.

The Hanriot monoplane was developed in 1910, and gave aviators excellent results. It did not depart radically from common monoplane lines of the time, but differed largely in structural details and dimensions. Yidart, Wagner, Marcel Hanriot, and Deletang, were some of the noted pilots of this exquisitely graceful machine.

Specifications from “Monoplanes and Biplanes,” by Grover Loening, 1911

The Frame

The general appearance of the Hanriot is very trim and shipshape. The central fuselage is built like a racing skull, and is very light and strong. This construction does away with the large amount of cross-wires, etc. The main spars for the planes are made of wood in three layers and are 3 inches deep and l1/^, wide. The skids are fixed at the bottom of an A-type frame, the upper part of the A forming a triangular frame above the planes, to which the latter are fastened by stout wires.

The Main Wing

The plane is divided in half. The halves are braced from the central frame, and set at a slight dihedral angle. Their corners are rounded. The section is medium thick and rather evenly curved, the greatest camber being near the center. The spread is 29^ feet, the depth 7 feet, and the surface area 183 square feet.

The Elevators

Hinged to the rear of the horizontal tail are two flaps serving a” the elevation rudder. All the rudders in the Hanriot are noteworthy for their small size. These rudders are operated by a lever in the aviator’s right hand, which is pushed forward for descent and pulled in for ascent. The rudders are 2 feet deep.

The Direction Rudder

A very small single surface, placed between the two elevation rudder flaps, is the direction rudder. It is operated by a foot bar, as on many of the French monoplanes.

Roll Control

Warping of the planes is used for transverse control. The rear spars are hinged, to permit of this. The lever controlling this is in the aviator’s left hand, and when pulled to the right, elevates the left side of the machine.

Tail

The horizontal empennage, non-lifting, resembles very much that on the Antoinette. A small triangular vertical empennage placed above the horizontal one is provided. The tail surface, however, is remarkable for its small size. The skiff-like frame does not come to a point on this type, although on the larger type it does. The total length is 26 feet. The tail is S feet wide, and in all 9 feet long.

Propulsion

A four-cylinder 50 horse-power Clerget is usually provided and drives at 1.203 r.p.m.; a Chauviere propeller, 7.2 feet in diameter and 3.8 feet pitch, is placed about 3 feet in front of the main plane. An eight-cylinder E. N. V. 40 horse-power motor is also used. The Seat is placed as in the Antoinette, and is very comfortable.

Landing Gear

The landing gear is mainly on two strong skids at the front supported by three uprights of the A-type frame work; the axles of the two wheels are carried on vertical guides, and are suspended by rubber springs anchored to the skids. There is a small skid at the rear.

Speed, Weight. Loading and Aspect Patio

The speed is approximately 51 miles per hour. The total weight is 760 pounds; 15.2 pounds being lifted per horse-power, and 4.15 per unit of surface. The aspect ratio is 4.2 to 1. There is a larger passenger-carrying type of this machine in which the spread is 43 feet and the surface 300 square feet. The total weight is 1,120 pounds, and the speed somewhat less than the small type.