Hawker Hind
RAF Single-Engine Two-Seat Tail-Dragger General-Purpose Light Biplane Bomber and Trainer, UK

Archive Photos 1

Hawker Hind on display (c.1994) at the Royal Air Force Museum London, Hendon Aerodrome, London, England

Hawker Hind (RCAF L-7180) on display (9/17/2003) at the Canada Aviation Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Overview 2

The British Hawker Hind was a 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.

Design and Development 2

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" exhaust manifolds, Fairey-Reed metal propeller and engine improvements) with the first production Hind (K4636) flown on 4 September 1935.

Operational History 2

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, the Republic of Ireland, Latvia, Persia (Iran), Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia. By 1937, the Hind was being phased out of front line service, replaced by the Fairey Battle and Bristol Blenheim, and with many of the Auxiliary Air Force squadrons changing role to fighter or maritime patrol units. At the outbreak of the Second World War 613 Squadron remained retained the Hind in the Army co-operation role before re-equipping the Hawker Hector in November 1939. 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.

Hawker 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, during the East African Campaign. Yugoslav Hinds were used against the Germans and Italians while Iranian Hinds were used briefly against Allied forces during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran.

Variants 2

Hind Operators 2

Hawker Hind Specifications (Kestrel V and VDR) 3

Type

Structure

Manufactures

Power Plant

Dimensions

Undercarriage

Weights (Bomber Kestrel V)

Performance (Kestrel V)

Performance (Kestrel VDR)

Armament

References

  1. Shupek, John. Photos, copyright © 1994, 2003 Skytamer Images. All Rights Reserved
  2. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia,
  3. Mason, Francis K. Hawker Aircraft Since 1920 (3rd revised edition). London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1991. ISBN 1-55750-351-6. pages

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