[retread]

I know the Brits were a little hard pressed to find an adequate number of quality Hispano-Suiza engines to power the SE-5's and 5a's. In France at least two manufacturers were contracted to build them. One- whose name without a reference I recall as being "Brazier"- produced quality engines. However, at least one other contracter produced engines that varied from the mediocre to the miserable. The Brit's being on the low end of the Hisso distribution food chain recieved many of the lesser quality engines, if they could aquire even those. Regardless,as a result engine failures were common even by the low standards of the day.

Now to the point- it would be interesting to discover what sort "Hisso" was in C1883. Do such records exsist?

While I realize even if Grider's aircraft was documented as being powered by a suspect Hisso it would prove nothing in itself. But in the absence of a German claim it would seem groundfire or engine (and/or structual) failure would be the most likely causes.