Designed by Henri Farman for military use, the HF.20 biplane entered service in early 1913, before the outbreak of the First World War. Its podded fuselage allowed a very wide field of vision for reconnaissance missions. Built of wood and canvas, the Farman HF.20 had a propeller at the rear of the aircraft. In August 1914, the aircraft was present in the French, Belgian, British, Romanian, Serbian, and Russian air forces and quickly took part in the conflict. It was withdrawn from the front lines in 1915, due to the lack of power of its engine and its complicated piloting.