Hawker Heron

The Hawker Heron was the first fighter aircraft designed at Hawker Aircraft with a basically metal structure. 

Sydney Camm was the chief designer that introduced what became the typical structure for all Hawker aircraft until the introduction of the jet-powered Hawker P.1040.

The Air Ministry issued Specification 25/24 to Hawker for a single-seat high-speed fighter landplane and a prototype was ordered for evaluation.

The first flight of the prototype, serial number J6989, flown by P.S.W. Bulman was made in 1925.

Despite being heavier than the similar powered Woodcock, it was 15 mph (24 km/h) faster and was praised by the pilots that flew it for its excellent handling properties.

Due to little interest from the Air Ministry, only one aircraft was built, and it was returned to Hawker after testing.

Specifications

Crew

1

Length

22 ft 3 in (6.78 m)

Wingspan

31 ft 10 in (9.70 m)

Height

9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)

Wing area

291 sq ft (27.0 m2)

Empty weight

2,120 lb (962 kg)

Gross weight

3,126 lb (1,418 kg)

Fuel capacity

60 imp gals (72 US gal; 270 L)

Powerplant

1 × Bristol Jupiter VI radial engine,

455 hp (339 kW)

Propellers

2-bladed Watts wooden propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

156 mph (251 km/h, 136 kn) at 9,800 ft (3,000 m)

Endurance

3 hr 30 min

Service ceiling

23,200 ft (7,100 m)

Time to altitude

5 min 30 s to 10,000 ft (3,000 m)

Armament

Guns

2 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns.