The Hawker Hart was a British two-seater biplane light bomber aircraft of the Royal Air Force.
It was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm.
The Hart was a prominent British aircraft in the inter-war period, but was obsolete and already side-lined for newer monoplane aircraft designs by the start of the Second World War, playing only minor roles in the conflict before being retired.
Variants
Hart
Hart I
Two-seat light bomber aircraft for the RAF.
525 hp Kestrel IB engine.
Hart SEDB
Two-seat single-engined light bomber aircraft for the RAF, powered by a 525 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel IB, or a 510 hp Kestrel X (DR) piston engine.
Hart (India)
Tropicalised version for the RAF, used by RAF in the North West Frontier of India, with larger radiator and extra equipment.
Hart (C)
Two-seat unarmed communications aircraft for the RAF, a small number were used by No. 24 Squadron RAF; eight built.
Hart Trainer (Interim)
Hart light bombers converted into training aircraft.
Two built.
Hart Trainer
Two-seat dual-control trainer aircraft, with reduced sweepback on top wings to compensate for movement in centre of gravity caused by removal of military equipment.
Hart Fighter
Two-seat fighter version for the RAF used by No. 23 Squadron RAF, with Kestrel IIS.
Later redesignated as the Demon; six built.
Hart (Special)
Tropicalised version for the RAF, used by the RAF in the Middle East.
Based on Audax airframe with desert equipment, and de-rated Kestrel X engine.
Hart (Testbeds)
Several Harts were used as engine test beds, including G-ABMR and G-ABTN which were used to test several variants of Kestrel engines.
K2434 was used by Napier to test the Napier Dagger I, II and III.
K3036 was used by Rolls-Royce to test the Merlin C and E, complete with a ventral radiator.
Estonian Hart
Export version for Estonia, equipped with an interchangeable wheel or float undercarriage; eight built.
Swedish Hart
Light bomber for Swedish Air Force.
Four Hawker-built pattern aircraft, powered by a Bristol Pegasus IM2 radial piston engine were delivered in 1934.
Following successful evaluation, 42 were built under licence in Sweden by AB Götaverken of Göteborg, powered by a Swedish-built NOHAB Pegasus IU2.
