The first of eight built. Operated by the Institut Geographique National from Creil from 1957 to 1986. Became F-AZNH, and is now under restoration to flying condition at Melun-Villaroche, France.

Close up of the modifications to the nose of this survey aircraft.

Used by French official National Geographic Institute (IGN)

F-BICV was the last HD-34 built, making its first flight on 13 Mar 1959. It was officially accepted by Institut Géographique National on 24 Apr 1959 and registered to them as F-BICV on 9 Jun 1959. The aircraft served with IGN until 1987, when it made its last flight to Creil on delivery to the Aéroclub de Creil-Chantilly-Senlis for static display. The registration was subsequently cancelled from the register on 8 Oct 1987. The type's unusually large wing span is apparent in this photo.

Nice early evening light on this HD-34, the last one built. It was officially accepted by Institut Géographique National on 24 Apr 1959 and registered to them as F-BICV on 9 Jun 1959. The aircraft served with IGN until 1987, when it made its last flight to Creil on delivery to the Aéroclub de Creil-Chantilly-Senlis for static display. The registration was subsequently cancelled from the register on 8 Oct 1987.

Photographer: Jean-Marie Magendie

Photographer unknown.

Photographer: Clive Moggridge

Crashed and burned on takeoff at Binbrook, UK, during filming of the movie "Memphis Belle" July 25, 1989. John Hopton photo

This well-kept thoroughbred was on the Le Bourget ramp when I got off the KLM DC-9 from Amsterdam on the Air Show Friday. Seen here in the Static display the following day

The one and only heavily modified Fokker Friendship ARAT conversion. ARAT stands for Avion de Recherche Atmosphérique et de Télédétection. This ARAT Friendship was an atmospheric research and remote-sensing aircraft used to perform the airborne measurements. It was acquired by IGN in 1985 as F-BYAO, and conversion to ARAT started in Feb 1986. In June 1988 it was redelivered to IGN as F-WYAO. It was reregistered back to F-BYAO in Dec 1991 and served with IGN as such until wfu on 14 Jul 2002. The ARAT was stored at Creil until sold for scrap in Aug 2007.

One of the last "working" B-17s, this aircraft crashed at Binbrook in July 1989 during the making of the movie "Memphis Belle".

On display at the aeroclub.

The HD-34 was derived from earlier experimental versions as an aerial mapping platform, flying in 2.57. Air France even considered ordering 24 as feederliners. A high aspect-ratio wing gave long endurance and good stability for photo-mapping, the type remaining in service with the IGN till 1985. Of the eight built, three survive including this one preserved at Creil by the local aeroclub. Another is stored by the Musée de l'Air and the third is still potentially flyable with a historic organisation out of Melun-Villaroche

What is this - an early Antonov transport of extra grumpy appearance? No, the HD-31 was a 1950s French airliner design, produced only as a cartographic aircraft. Its very high aspect ratio wing is not apparent in this view. There's a hare on the left.