1st Flight 1928
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.
Specifications
Crew: 2
Length: 29 ft 4 in (8.94 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 3 in (11.35 m)
Height: 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m)
Wing area: 349.5 sq ft (32.47 m2)
Airfoil: RAF 28
Empty weight: 2,530 lb (1,148 kg)
Max take-off weight: 4,596 lb (2,085 kg)
Fuel capacity: 83 imp gal (100 US gal; 380 L)
Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Kestrel IB water-cooled V12 engine, 525 hp (391 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 185 mph (298 km/h, 161 kn) at 13,000 ft (4,000 m)
Stall speed: 45 mph (72 km/h, 39 kn)
Range: 430 mi (690 km, 370 nmi)
Service ceiling: 22,800 ft (6,900 m)
Time to altitude: 8 min 30 s to 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
Armament
Guns: 1 × synchronised forward firing .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun, 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Gun on Scarff ring in rear cockpit.
Bombs: Up to 520 lb (240 kg) bombs under wings.
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