Hawker Hind
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| Hind | |
|---|---|
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| Hawker Hind, flying example in Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Type | Light bomber, Trainer |
| Manufacturer | Hawker Aircraft Limited |
| Designed by | Sidney Camm |
| Maiden flight | 12 September 1934 |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force Iran New Zealand South Africa |
| Produced | 1935-1938 |
| Number built | 528 |
| Variants | Hawker Hart Hawker Hector Hawker P.V.4 |
The British Hawker Hind was an Royal Air Force light bomber of the inter-war years produced by Hawker Aircraft. It was developed from the Hawker Hart day-bomber introduced in 1931.
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[edit] Design and development
An improved Hawker Hart bomber defined by Specification G.7/34, was purchased by RAF as interim aircraft while more modern monoplane bombers such as the Fairey Battle were still in development. Structural elements were a mixture of steel and duralumin with the wings being fabric covered while the main differences compared to the earlier Hart was a new powerplant, (the Rolls Royce Kestrel V) and the inclusion of refinements from the earlier derivatives such as the cut-down rear cockpit developed for the Demon. The prototype (K2915) was constructed very rapidly due to Hawker's development work for other proposals, and made its first flight on September 12, 1934. A variety of changes were subsequently incorporated ("ram's horn" manifolds, Fairy-Reed metal propeller and engine improvements) with the first production Hind (K4636) flown on 4 September 1935.
[edit] Operational service
The Hind went into service in November 1935 and eventually equipped 20 RAF bomber squadrons. A number were also sold to foreign customers including Afghanistan, Eire (Ireland), Latvia, Persia (Iran), Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia. By 1937, the Hind was being phased out of frontline service, replaced by the Fairey Battle and Bristol Blenheim. The Hind found a new career in 1938 as a training aircraft representing the next step up from basic training on Tiger Moths. It continued in use as an intermediate trainer during the Second World War.
Hind trainers were also operated by Canada and New Zealand.
In 1941, Hinds flew combat missions in their original role as light bombers. South African Hinds were employed against Italian forces in Kenya, Yugoslav Hinds were used against the Germans and Italians while Iranian Hinds were used briefly when invading Allied British and Soviet contingents attacked Iran.
[edit] Variants
- Hind Mk I : Two-seat light bomber aircraft for the RAF.
[edit] Operators
Afghanistan: 28 were acquired by the Afghan Air Force in 1938, the final example retiring in 1957.
Canada
Iran
Republic of Ireland
Latvia
New Zealand 78 sent to the RNZAF of which 63 entered service, primarily as trainers 1940-1943. The other 15 were lost to enemy action in transit.
Portugal
South Africa
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Yugoslavia
[edit] Survivors
An airworthy ex-Afghan Hind flies with the Shuttleworth Collection. Another is on display at the RAF Museum in Hendon. Several former Royal New Zealand Air Force Hinds are being restored/reconstructed by the Subritzky family / The Classic Aircraft Collection at Dairy Flat near Auckland, of which at least NZ1517/K6687, and NZ1535/K6721 are under restoration to airworthy condition. Substantial parts are also held for NZ1518/K6717, NZ1528/L7184, NZ1544/K6810 and NZ1554/K5465. The remains of other Hinds were recently located in Afghanistan.
[edit] Specifications (Hind)
Data from The British Bomber since 1914[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 29 ft 3 in (8.92 m)
- Wingspan: 37 ft 3 in (11.36 m)
- Height: 10 ft 7 in (3.23 m)
- Wing area: 348 ft² (32.3 m²)
- Empty weight: 3,195 lb (1,452 kg)
- Loaded weight: lb (kg)
- Useful load: lb (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 4,657 lb (2,167 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Kestrel V Water cooled V-12, 640 hp (477 kW)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: knots (mph, km/h)
- Maximum speed: 161 knots (185 mph, 298 km/h) at 15,500 ft
- Cruise speed: knots (mph, km/h)
- Stall speed: 39 knots (45 mph, 72 km/h) [2]
- Range: 374 nm (430 mi, 692 km)
- Service ceiling: 26,400 ft (8,050 m)
- Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
- Wing loading: 13.3 lb/ft² (37.1 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.14 hp/lb (0.22 kW/kg)
- Climb to 10,000 ft 8 minutes 6 seconds
Armament
- One synchronised forward firing Vickers gun and one Lewis gun in rear cockpit.
- Up to 510lb (227 kg) bombs under wings.
[edit] References
- ^ Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber Since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1994. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.
- ^ Air Transport Auxiliary Ferry Pilots Notes (reproduction). Elvington, York, UK: Yorkshire Air Museum, 1996. ISBN 0-9512379-8-5.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
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