Hawker Hawfinch
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = Hawfinch
|image = Hawker Hawfinch.jpg
|caption =
|type = Fighter
|manufacturer = Hawker Aircraft
|designer = Sydney Camm
|first_flight = March 1927
|introduction =
|retired =
|status = Prototype only
|primary_user =
|more_users =
|produced =
|number_built = One
|unit cost =
|developed_from =
|variants =
}}
The Hawker Hawfinch was a British single-engined biplane fighter of the 1920s. It was unsuccessful, with the Bristol Bulldog being selected instead.
Development
The Hawker Hawfinch fighter aircraft was designed in 1925 as a replacement for both the Armstrong-Whitworth Siskin and the Gloster Gamecock fighters. It participated in the competition to meet Specification F9/26, together with other aircraft manufacturers, that included nine different designs, of which five were built. The Hawfinch first flew in March 1927.{{cite book |last= Green|first= W |author2=Swanborough, G |title= The Complete Book of Fighters |year= 1994|publisher= Smithmark|location= New York |isbn= 0-8317-3939-8 |page=282}} The Bristol Bulldog and the Hawfinch were considered to be the best of the aircraft evaluated, and were selected for more detailed evaluation. The contract was finally awarded to the Bristol Bulldog, because of its slightly higher maximum speed as well as being easier to maintain.Crawford, Alex. Bristol Bulldog & Gloster Gauntlet. (Mushroom Model Magazine #6166). London: Mushroom Model Publications, 2005. After the completion of the competition, the prototype Hawfinch was used for experimental purposes, being tested with single-bay wings and with a twin-float undercarriage.
Only one prototype was built.
Description
The Hawfinch was a two-bay biplane with staggered wings. The structure was the patented Hawker metal tube & "fishplate" system, with fabric covering. It was the first all-metal fighter to be built by Hawker. The powerplant was initially a Bristol Jupiter VI engine, but this was changed to a Jupiter VII (450 hp/336 kW) before the performance trials. The armament consisted of two Vickers machine guns synchronised to fire through the propeller.
Specifications (Hawfinch (Jupiter VII))
{{Aircraft specs
|ref={{Cite book
|author=Mason, Francis K|title=The British Fighter since 1912|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1992|pages=188–189|isbn= 1-55750-082-7}}
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=1
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=23
|length in=8
|span m=
|span ft=33
|span in=6
|height m=
|height ft=9
|height in=4
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=294
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=1925
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=2910
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Bristol Jupiter VII
|eng1 type=9-cylinder radial engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=450
|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=171
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at {{convert|9800|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=24000
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|time to altitude=7 min 40 s to {{convert|10000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|guns=2 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns
|bombs=Provision for 4 × 20 lb (9 kg) bombs
|rockets=
|missiles=
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
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|avionics=
}}
See also
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References
{{commons category|Hawker Hawfinch}}
{{Reflist}}
- {{cite book |title= Hawker Aircraft since 1920|last= Mason|first=Francis K. |year=1991 |publisher= Putnam|location=London |isbn=0-85177-839-9 }}
{{Hawker Aircraft aircraft}}
Category:1920s British fighter aircraft