Hawker Hardy

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hawker Hardy
Hawker Hardy LOC matpc.18774.jpg
Type: Multipurpose aircraft
Design country:

United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom

Manufacturer:

Hawker Aircraft

First flight:

September 7, 1934

Commissioning:

1935

Production time:

1934-1936

Number of pieces:

47

The Hawker Hardy was a further development of the successful Hawker-Hart family as a multi-purpose aircraft for use in Iraq. It is a two-seater, single-engine biplane, which was intended to replace the Westland Wapiti that was previously used .

development

To save time, a Hawker Hart K3013 was converted as a prototype, which flew for the first time on September 7, 1934. The aircraft was modified for use in the tropics and received a special cooler, a hook with which messages could be picked up from the ground, water containers and desert emergency equipment. Hawker used the Rolls-Royce Kestrel IB with 530 hp as the engine. The entire production of 47 aircraft took place at Gloster Aircraft, part of the Hawker-Siddeley Group .

production

The Hawker Hardy was built in series by Gloster Aircraft.

Approval of the Hawker Hardy by the RAF:

version 1934 1935 1936 total
Hardy 9 28 10 47

commitment

The first 21 Hardys were handed over to the 30 Squadron in Hinaidi / Iraq in early 1935. Until the squadron was converted to Bristol Blenheim in 1938 , only two aircraft were lost. After an overhaul of the aircraft in Aboukir / Egypt, the 6 Squadron in Palestine was equipped with it. During the Arab uprising in Palestine in 1938, the squadron was used for police and army operations. During this period, three Hardys were lost to ground fire and six to accidents. After the 6 Squadron had been equipped with Westland Lysander in 1940 , the remaining aircraft went to the 237 Squadron (Southern Rhodesian Air Force), which they stationed in Sudan. There the Hardys flew in the fight against the Italians in Abyssinia for army support, reconnaissance and bombing raids. The last operation was carried out on May 9, 1941 and most of the remaining aircraft were scrapped. A few then flew as liaison aircraft.

Technical specifications

Parameter Hawker Hardy
crew 2
length 9.02 m
span 11.35 m
Wing area 32.33 m²
height 3.23 m
Empty mass 1450 kg
Takeoff mass 2270 kg
drive a Rolls-Royce Kestrel IB with 395 kW (530 PS)
Top speed 259 km / h at sea level
Range Flight time 3 hours
Service ceiling 5180 m
Armament two 7.7 mm machine guns , up to 4 × 9 kg bombs in underwing positions

literature

  • Halley, James J .: The K File. The Royal Air Force of the 1930s , Tunbridge Wells, 1995, pp. 203 ff.
  • Aero. The illustrated compilation of aviation, issue 149, p. 2547 f.

Individual evidence

  1. Halley, James J .: The K File. The Royal Air Force of the 1930s , Tunbridge Wells, 1995, pp. 203 ff.