Breguet's aircraft ID challenge #542

[Froggy]

Congratulations Kees !!!!!!!

http://www.ailes-romandes.ch/Histori...s/image005.jpg

here is same plane with swiss cross!

Bruno

[Varese2002]

Thanks Bruno, I like the picture with the Suisse insignia even better

Cheers

Kees

[Aquilius]

You have it, Kees!


It's the swiss Haefeli DH-2, designed by August Haefeli and built at the
"Eidgenössische Konstruktions-Werkstätte" known as "K & W" in Thun!

After the prototype another 5 machines were built that got a 120 hp Argus As.II engine.
They served as trainers with the swiss army until 1922.
Swiss army codes were 241-246.

I thought the swiss insignia would made it a bit too easy for you.


Rbailey mentioned a swiss design a few minutes earlier, but I have to give the full score
and next challenge to Kees.


Scoreboard after challenge #542 - Haefeli DH-2 - is:

99.00 Varese2002 ☼
69.70 Dave_Kent ☼
59.60 Rbailey ☼
31.30 Cruze ☼
17.70 YavorD
17.15 Froggy
16.50 Aquilius
13.30 Rod Filan
12.60 Flamingo
11.90 richard B
09.50 matte_kudasai
08.40 JohnMacG
08.10 Breguet
07.70 Dan-San
07.70 EdStevens
07.60 trp81
07.30 Patrick
07.10 Colin A. Owers
06.70 Ampovandak
06.10 joegertler
06.00 Eric Goedkoop
05.70 Doc
05.70 FOKKERJ Feuchtwanger
05.60 ercoupepilot
05.45 GregE
05.30 Crimso
05.30 Der Grüne Flieger
05.20 Gilles
05.10 bshatzer
05.00 Tom L........................ 12hours waiting
04.70 AROTH........................ No waiting
04.70 dpolglaze
04.40 Ross Moorhouse
04.30 edmondthieffry
04.00 greenknight
03.70 Berman
03.40 Lodzermensch
02.50 Gregoire
02.10 Crankcase
02.00 austin08
02.00 Rickenbaron
02.00 sobrien
01.70 Kilian
01.60 sergio_vitalio
01.30 Cigogne
01.20 Ransom E. Olds
01.00 airplane176
01.00 Albatros_Ace
01.00 Brad
01.00 Catfish
01.00 Cliff
01.00 cubsfan4life
01.00 gregorydquist
01.00 Luf-Rick
01.00 Mike Westorp
01.00 paolomiana
01.00 Peter Zambori
01.00 rammjaeger
01.00 Rexee
01.00 SL DIII
01.00 Tripehound
00.80 Machinbird
00.80 tbstreet
00.80 toxisch
00.60 Sreiko
00.50 ’14-‘18aviationcollector
00.50 Martin Irvine
00.40 Vilkata
00.30 albapfalzd30
00.30 Miroslav Pokorny
00.30 Nieuport14
00.20 Paul_J._Fisher


Thanks everybody for taking part.


Cheers

Aquilius

[Lodzermensch]

Welcome,

Congratulations Kees.

However, I have some doubt as to the proper designation of this airplane. Serial number 47 and the upper wing cut-out suggest that this is Häfeli DH-3 rather then DH-2.

Of course, this does not mean that Kees is not a winner.

Greetings

Marek

[Rbailey]

The DH 3 had a different engine installation and tapered ailerons, and was also an earlier challenge. I think Kees has it right.

[Aquilius]

Originally Posted by Lodzermensch

However, I have some doubt as to the proper designation of this airplane. Serial number 47 and the upper wing cut-out suggest that this is Häfeli DH-3 rather then DH-2.

...
Marek

Marek, maybe you know more than me here.

I can't explain the "No. 47" myself.
Apart from 6 Haefeli DH-1 copies I have no idea what has been built before by K&W in Thun.

Just what I have seen of the DH-3 - it had ear radiators and used a spinner with the prop.
The Argus engine was changed quickly to a 150 hp Hispano-Suiza and even the early side panel
looked different to me.
But of course the main frame was pretty similar to the DH-2.


Cheers

Aquilius

[Lodzermensch]

Hello,

You must be right. The airplane on the picture was powered by Mercedes engine for sure. The first copy of DH-2 was the only Häfeli DH-3 and DH-2 aircraft with this engine. It seems, that my source of serial numbers is imprecise.


Cheers

Marek

[Varese2002]

Originally Posted by Aquilius

----

I can't explain the "No. 47" myself.

----

On the first Challenge picture - the one with the three people in front of the machine - there can also be read the No. 47 on the rudder. Sure this is the same machine as on the other 2 pictures presented by Aquilius. Even the very large flat flying field (Switserland ) seems to be the same.

One of the three men could be the designer August Haefeli.

I have seen no evidence that the the first (?) example of the Haëfeli designed DH-2 was powered by a Mercedes D. III engine. All of the produced DH-2 machines (6 examples) were allegedly powered by the 120 hp Argus As.II.

It is interesting to know how the Swiss acquired these German engines, or did they produce them under licence ? They were at that a neutral country.

Cheers

Kees

[Lodzermensch]

Hello Kees,

As for serial number – I based on the Swiss web site:

Prior 1936

I’m not sure if it is correct because the engine visible on the picture posted in this thread looks like Mercedes. According to Russian sources I found, only the first copy of DH-2 was fitted with this engine and it was Mercedes D.I not D.III. The problem is – it is not confirmed by the Swiss sources. On the other hand the engine on the photo still does not look like Argus or Hispano Suiza. There were also three copies of DH-3 equipped with 150 hp LFW engine. Unfortunately, I do not know how this engine looks like.

Neutrality does not mean, that Switzerland could not buy equipment from both sides involved in The War.

Greetings

Marek

[Aquilius]

I just mentioned, I mixed up my notes of the DH-1 and DH-2.

Army Serials 241-246 belonged to the DH-1

The DH-2 got 348-353.

But I didn't know about 110 ! copies of the DH-3.
I thought there were only 24 (501-512 & 519-530).

There have been another 86 built in 1927?


Aquilius