Hawker Audax

Hawker Audax
Hawker Audax prototype K1438 around 1931
Type:	Close air support
Design country:	United Kingdom
Manufacturer:	Hawker Aircraft Ltd.
First flight:	Summer 1931
Number of pieces:	294 for Hawker 554 for licensees

The Audax was an army cooperation aircraft of the British Air Force ( Royal Air Force ) of the 1930s. The machine was an open two-seater, designed as a metal construction with fabric covering.

history

Developed according to specification 7/31 from Hawker Hart and thus a "classic" double-decker with rigid landing gear, the prototype (K1438) flew for the first time in 1931, and the first series machine was delivered on December 29 of the same year. The short development time can be explained by the extensive identity of the Audax with the Hart, from which it differed only through some special equipment. 650 copies were built by 1935. In February 1932, the first Audax squadron became operational.

The model was supplemented by the Hawker Hardy , a more versatile and slightly more motorized machine, but otherwise largely the same machine.

The Audax was replaced by the Westland Lysander at the beginning of the Second World War and then mainly served as a trainer and tow plane. In Africa and in Iraq in 1941, Audax were also used in combat operations.

production

The Hawker Audax was built in series by four companies (Hawker, Kingston; Gloster , Hucclecote; Avro , Chaddarton; Bristol , Filton).

Approval of the Hawker Audax by the RAF:

Manufacturer	version	1931	1932	1933	1934	1935	1936	1937	total
Hawker	Mk.I	9	31	113	21st	2			176
Gloster					26th				26th
Avro							219	18th	237
Bristol							141		141
Gloster	India					25th			25th
Avro							25th	25th	50
total		9	31	113	47	27	385	43	655

The Audax was delivered to the Iraqi Air Force in 34 copies from 1935. There she flew under the name "Nisr". Persia received a total of 56 Audax in 1934 and 1935. Production for Egypt amounted to 24 aircraft. Six of them were delivered in 1937 and 18 in 1938. Hawker built four Audax with the Rolls-Royce Kestrel VFP (608 hp) for South Africa. There the aircraft was built under the name "Hartbees" in 65 copies under license from "Aircraft and Artillery Depot" in Roberts Heights. Another 10 aircraft were built under license by the Iranian Aircraft Factory in Tehran from 1939 onwards. The production amounted to 848 aircraft.

Technical specifications

Parameter	Data
crew	2
drive	an in-line engine Rolls-Royce Kestrel IB with 530 PS (390 kW) or a derated X with 520 PS (382 kW)
length	9.02 m
span	11.35 m
height	3.18 m
Wing area	32.33 m²
Empty mass	1335 kg
Takeoff mass	1985 kg
Top speed	274 km / h at 725 m altitude 253 km / h at 4000 m altitude
Rise time	2.5 min at 725 m altitude, 8.6 min at 3000 m altitude
Flight duration	3:35 h
Summit height	6400 m
Armament	a 7.7-mm-MG Vickers rigid at the front and a 7.7-mm-MG Lewis moveable at the rear

Literature and Sources

• Owen Thetford: Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918. 8th revised edition. Putnam / Conway, London 1988, ISBN 0-85177-810-0 , pp. 347-348 and 350-351.
• Kenneth G. Munson: Aircraft of World War II. Ian Allan, London 1962 p. 195.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Halley, James J .: The K File. The Royal Air Force of the 1930s , Tunbridge Wells, 1995, pp. 94 ff.
2. ↑ Wixey, Ken: Hart of the Matter , in: Air Enthusiast 96, pp. 24-33; AE 97, pp. 54-65; AE 98, pp. 57-65
3. ↑ Andersson, Lennart: Iranian Eagles , in: http://www.artiklar.z-bok.se/english.html