The Danish Army took delivery of it’s first Henri Farman biplane during 1913. It was manufactured by the Farman factory in Paris and numbered H.F.1. An additional two (H.F.2 and H.F.3) were delivered from the Södertälje Verkstäder in Sweden in 1915, followed by H.F.4, also from the factory in Sweden, in april 1917.

The Henri Farman biplanes were two-seaters and used for reconnaissance. The pilot was sitting in the rear and the front seat was used by the spotter. The plane could carry an 8 mm machine gun (most likely a Madsen 7.92 mm), although it’s not clear how this was mounted, or whether it was hand-held. No available photo shows a machine-gun mounting ring.

Although contemporary to the Maurice Farman, it has using steel-tubing, had a more powerful engine, was faster, lighter, had a modern aircraft layout, and could carry heavier loads.

Denmark was not directly involved in WWI and had very little access to foreign technology during the 4 years from 1914 to 1918. The Henri Farman was state-of-the-art when the war started, but hopelessly obsolete in 1918. The last Henri Farman was scapped in 1919 when more modern aviation technology became available again.

Specifications:

Construction: Steel tube, wood and Canvas
Engine: 80HP Gnome Rotary or 90 HP Thulin Engine.
Wing-Span: 13.25 m
Length: 8.30 m
Height: 3.20 m
Weight – Empty: 350 kg
Weight – Laden: 625 kg
Speed: 100 km/h max
Flying Time: 3 hours