Hawker Henley
| Hawker Henley | |
|---|---|
 Hawker Henley |
|
| Type: | Fighter plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
March 10, 1937 |
| Commissioning: |
-1942 |
The Hawker Henley was a light fighter aircraft produced by the British manufacturer Hawker Aircraft Ltd. from the time of the Second World War . The middle-decker then served mainly as a target tug for anti- aircraft exercises .
history
In 1934 the British Aviation Department advertised a light bomber for close air support . Fairey , Gloster and Hawker participated in the tender. The aircraft should have a high flight performance and a moderate bomb capacity.
Hawker, turning toward the structural design of his Hurricane - fighters . Many parts of the Henley, such as the wings and the Rolls-Royce-Merlin engine, were taken over from the Hurricane. The aircraft had high performance and could carry a moderate bomb load. The Henley was a middle-decker with the best power-to-weight ratio and a minimal frontal area. The tail wheel landing gear was retractable. In contrast to the Hurricane, the Henley had two seats. There was space for an observer or gunner on the rear seat .
The development of the Henley began in early 1935, but was delayed by the parallel production of the Hurricane. The first prototype of the Henley did not fly until March 10, 1937 and was equipped with a Merlin-F engine. Thereafter, the aircraft was equipped with a Merlin I engine and light metal wings. The next flights showed excellent flight performance.
However, the Ministry of Aviation decided to abandon the tender for light bombers. The Henley was therefore converted into a target tug plane. Of these, 200 machines were ordered and manufactured at Gloster. The second prototype was fitted with a propeller-driven winch to tow air targets. It flew for the first time on May 26, 1938.
The series machines of the type Henley Mk.III went to the No.1, 5 and 10 Bombing and Gunnery School, as well as to the Air Schools in Barrow , Millom and Squire's Gate . There, however, serious defects such as a very low top speed of 355 km / h and frequent engine failures were found. The Henley was therefore withdrawn from this area and then had to tow larger aerial targets. It now served in units for anti-aircraft training.
In mid-1942 it was finally retired and replaced by Boulton Paul Defiant and Miles Martinet machines.
variants
The Hawker Hotspur was a two-seat sea fighter with a turret with four machine guns. However, it never went into series production because the Boulton Paul Defiant and the Blackburn Roc were already performing these tasks.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data Hawker Henley Mk.III |
|---|---|
| crew | Pilot and gunner / observer |
| length | 11.10 m |
| span | 14.3 m |
| Wing area | 31.77 m² |
| height | 4.27 m |
| Empty mass | 2725 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 3845 kg |
| drive | 1 × Rolls-Royce Merlin II or III 1044 PS (768 kW) |
| Top speed | 438 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 8230 m |
| Range | 1223 km |
literature
- B. Gunston: Classic World War II Aircraft Cutaways , Osprey, 1995, ISBN 1-85532-526-8
- D. Mondey: The Hamyln concise guide to British aircraft of World War II , Hamlyn / Aerospace, 1982, ISBN 0-600-34951-9
