Hanriot HD.19

The Hanriot HD.19 was a military trainer aircraft produced in France in the 1920s. Part of the family of designs that began with the HD.14, it was a two-bay biplane with unstaggered wings of equal span. The pilot and instructor sat in tandem, open cockpits. While the HD.14 and most of its derivatives were powered by rotary or radial engines, the HD.19 had a Hispano-Suiza Vee-8.

The aircraft was Hanriot's submission in a 1923 competition by the Aéronautique Militaire to select a new intermediate training aircraft, was found suitable by the military authorities, and was ordered into production. Some 50 examples saw service as the HD.19 ET.2 (Ecole de Transition).

Poland bought six aircraft HD.19bis in 1925 and a licence to produce the type for the Polish Air Force. The production was located in WWS Samolot factory in Poznań, which built 80 examples between 1925 and 1928, designated Hanriot H-19. Last 30 were improved variant H-19a, with a water radiator placed under engine, instead of above engine. Total of 86 aircraft were used by the Polish Air Force until their withdrawal in 1935. Single examples were also built by Hanriot for export to Japan and Czechoslovakia.

The aircraft was disliked by the Polish pilots, as too difficult to fly for a training machine, among others demanding a precision landing. In addition, a water radiator was placed upon the engine, what obstructed view from a cab.

Operators

 * One aircraft only.
 * French Navy
 * One aircraft only.
 * Latvian Navy
 * Polish Air Force
 * One aircraft only.
 * Latvian Navy
 * Polish Air Force
 * Polish Air Force
 * Polish Air Force