Hawker Heron
Heron | |
---|---|
Role | Biplane fighter |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Hawker Aircraft |
First flight | 1925 |
Status | Prototype |
Number built | 1 |
The Hawker Heron was the first
Design
The design was produced in 1924 as a private venture version of the Hawker Woodcock fighter with the wooden structure of the Woodcock replaced by a mainly metal structure, but as the design developed, the use of a metal structure resulted in an entirely new aircraft.[1]
The Heron was a single bay biplane with a metal structure as described above and fabric covered. It was powered by a 455 hp (339 kW) Bristol Jupiter VI engine driving a two-bladed wooden propeller. (A metal propeller was also flown but showed no improvement of performance). There was provision for two .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns.
The Air Ministry issued
Specifications
Data from Hawker Aircraft since 1919 [4]
General characteristics
- 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 gal (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
See also
Related development
References
- ^ Mason 1991, pp. 124–125
- ^ Meekcoms & Morgan 1994, p. 85
- ^ Mason 1991, p. 126
- ^ Mason 1991, p. 127
- Fozzard, John W., ed. (1991). Sydney Camm & the Hurricane. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-270-9.
- Mason, Francis K. (1991). Hawker Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-839-9.
- Meekcoms, K. J.; Morgan, E. B. (1994). The British Aircraft Specification File. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: ISBN 0-85130-220-3.