The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, is the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world. Like most airplane museums, the Museum of Flight includes displays of model airplanes to illustrate the history of flight. World War I—“The Great War”—established airplanes as an important part of modern warfare. For the first time in history, combatants took to the skies over the battlefield and their presence changed military strategy forever.
According to the display:
“Aviation technology underwent a period of explosive growth during World War I. As the countries began to recognize the usefulness of aircraft over the battlefield, they started investing heavily in the development of new and better machines. Development during the War was rapid and chaotic. Sometimes new aircraft did not progress beyond the original prototype while others were produced in the thousands, and revisions were often ordered even after the planes reached the Front. To keep up with demand, most designs were licensed out to multiple companies for manufacture. Aircraft designation systems developed alongside new machines, often struggling to keep pace. As a result, the lines between aircraft types were often unclear and untangling the details of World War I aviation presents a tremendous challenge for researchers.”
The collection of World War I airplane models, meticulously made to a 1/48 scale by Dr. H. Logan Holtgrewe over a period of four and a half years, includes 153 airplanes. Dr. H. Logan Holtgrewe used many sources to ensure that the models of World War I aircraft are presented with the greatest possible accuracy.
From 1914-1918, airplanes evolved from frail wood and fabric machines to more advanced, all-metal, aerodynamically efficient fighters, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.
Shown below are some of the French and British airplane models.
Shown above is a Borel Aeroyacht Denhaut 1
Shown above is a Voisin 10 BN.2 (Type LAR). First flown in 1917, this aircraft had a top speed of 84 mph and a range of 220 miles. About 900 were built.
Shown above is a Voisin 3. First flown in 1914, this aircraft had a top speed of 65 mph, a range of 120 miles, and a service ceiling of 11,500 feet. About 1,350 were built.
Shown above is a 1912 Dunne D.8. First flown in 1912, this aircraft had a top speed of 56 mph. About 4 were built.
Shown above is a Farman M.F.7. First flown in 1913, this aircraft had a top speed of 59 mph and a service ceiling of 13,00 feet. It was in active service until 1922 with several air forces.
Shown above is a 1915 Farman F.40 Horace. First flown in 1915, this aircraft had a top speed of 84 mph, a range of 260 miles, and a service ceiling of 13,290 feet. It was in active service until 1922.
Shown above is a Dorand Type A.R.2 A2. First flown in 1916, this aircraft had a top speed of 92 mph and a service ceiling of 18,000 feet. It addition to its use by the French Air Force, it was also used by the American Expeditionary Force and Serbian Aviation.
Shown above is a Salmson 2 A2. First flown in 1917, this aircraft had a top speed of 117 mph, a range of 310 miles, and a service ceiling of 20,515 feet. More than 3,800 were built.
Shown above is a Spad XIII (S.13). The Spad XIII entered French service in May 1917 and by early 1918 had become the standard single-seat French fighter. It had a top speed of 135.5 mph and a service ceiling of 22,360 feet.
Shown above is a Breguet BR.5. First flown in 1915, this aircraft had a top speed of 83 mph, a range of 435 miles, and a service ceiling of 14,110 feet.
Shown above is a Breguet Type A-G.4 (Gnome). First flown in 1911, this was the first Breguet aircraft to be produced in quantity.
Shown above is a Morane-Saulnier Type A1. First flown in 1917, this aircraft had a top speed of 140 mph and a service ceiling of 22,965 feet.
Shown above is a Nieuport VI. First flown in 1913, this aircraft had a top speed of 65 mph.
Shown above is a Short Bomber. First flown in 1915, it was adopted by the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and retired in 1917. A total of 83 were built. It had a top speed of 77 mph and a service ceiling of 10,600 feet.
Shown above is a Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2B. First flown in 1914, this aircraft had a top speed of 91 mph and a service ceiling of 11,000 feet. Nearly 2,000 were built.
Shown above is a Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard. First flown in 1918, less than 400 were produced. It had a top speed of 146 mph (the fastest plane developed during World War I) and a service ceiling of 24,000 feet.
Shown above is an Avro 504K. First flown in 1913, this aircraft remained in service until 1934. More than 10,000 were built. It had a top speed of 95 mph, a range of 250 miles, and a service ceiling of 16,000 feet.
Shown above is a Sopwith Triplane. The 1916 Sopwith Triplane had a service ceiling of 20,500 feet and a top speed of 117 mph.
More model airplane photo diaries
Museum of Flight: World War I German airplane models (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War I multi-engine models (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War I seaplane models (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War II model airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War II Japanese seaplane models (photo diary)
Planes of Fame: Model Airplanes (Photo Diary)
Stonehenge Air Museum: Model Airplanes (Photo Diary)
Olympic Flight Museum: Some model biplanes (photo diary)