FARMAN HF.7

History

Developed before the outbreak of the First World War, the Farman HF.7 was a development of Maurice Farmans second design, and featured a pusher propeller with a wooden strut construction.

Two MF.7s were transferred to Epirus in November 1912, one of which was inducted into Greek service during the Balkan wars, which was was converted into a hydroplane in Greek service, and performed the first Naval cooperation mission in history in a joint action with the Hellenic Navy. The mission involved a pilot Michail Moutousis and the observer Aristidis Moraitinis undertaking a reconnaissance mission and drawing a diagram of the positions of the Turkish fleet on the 24th January 1913. They also dropped four bombs, making it the first naval cooperation combat as well. 

Later, 2 more were delivered to Nikopolis likely in late 1912. During the Balkan Wars, they saw significant service both in reconnaissance duties and in bombing Ottoman fortresses, until the liberation of Ioannina in February 1913. During its flights over Ioannina, the MF.7s were also used to drop newspaper and food to the residents in an attempt to boost morale, and provide humanitarian aid.

 more saw service during the First World War, in reconnaissance duties. 

Design

The aircraft was constructed primarily out of a wooden frame, with a forward elevator, a biplane configuration, and a Renault V8 air-cooled engine mounted in a pusher configuration. 

Only the lower wings featured ailerons, with the main structure consisted out of ash wood and silver spruce.