Hawker Hawfinch

Manufacturer: Hawker Aircraft
Designed by: Sydney Camm
First flight: March 1927
Status: Prototype only
Number built: One

The Hawker Hawfinch was a British single engined biplane fighter of the 1920's. 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 . 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. 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

Twe 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))

Data from The British Fighter since 1912 .

General characteristics

Crew: One
Length: 23 ft 8 in (7.21 m)
Wingspan: 33 ft 6 in (10.21 m)
Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Wing area: 294 ft² (27.3 m²)
Empty weight: 1,925 lb (873 kg)
Loaded weight: 2,910 lb (1,320 kg)
Powerplant: 1x— Bristol Jupiter VII 9 cylinder radial engine, 450 hp (336 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 149 kn (171 mph, 275 km/h) at 9,800 ft
Service ceiling: 24,000 ft (7,315 m)
Wing loading: 9.90 lb/ft² (48.4 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.155 hp/lb (0.256 kW/kg)
Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 7 min 40 sec

Armament

2 x— 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns
Provision for 4 x— 20 lb (9 kg) bombs

Mason, Francis K. (1991). Hawker Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 85177 839 9.

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Source: WikiPedia