Hawker Hind

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hind

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.

An improved Hawker Hart bomber defined by Specification G.7/34, was purchased by
the RAF as an 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; 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 (Serial number
K2915) was constructed very rapidly due to Hawker's development work for other
proposals and made its first flight on 12 September 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.


Role
Light bomber, Trainer

Manufacturer
Hawker Aircraft Limited

Designer
Sydney Camm

First flight
12 September 1934

Introduction
1935

Retired
1957 (Afghanistan)

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 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, with
many of the Auxiliary Air Force squadrons changing their role to fighter or
maritime patrol units. At the outbreak of the Second World War, 613 Squadron
retained the Hind in the Army co-operation role before re-equipping with the
Hart derivative, 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 war. Hind trainers were also operated by Canada
and New Zealand. In 1941, Hinds flew operations in their original role as light
bombers against Axis forces. South African Hinds were employed against Italian
forces in Kenya during the East African Campaign and Yugoslav Hinds were used
against the Germans and Italians. Iranian Hinds were used briefly against Allied
forces during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran. Imperial Iranian Air Force
bases were occupied by the Allies and their aircraft were destroyed or
dismantled by the invading British.

Specifications (Hind)

General characteristics
Crew: two
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)
Useful load: lb (kg)
Loaded weight: 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
Maximum speed: 161 kn (185 mph, 298 km/h) at 15,500 ft
Stall speed: 39 kn (45 mph, 72 km/h)
Range: 374 nmi (430 mi, 692 km)
Service ceiling: 26,400 ft (8,050 m)
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

1 × synchronised forward-firing .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers gun and 1 × .303 in
(7.7 mm) Lewis gun in rear cockpit
Up to 510 lb (231 kg) bombs under wings.



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