Hawker Audax
Hawker Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1931 · fighter
The Hawker Audax was a British two-seat army co-operation biplane developed from the Hart bomber, designed to support ground forces with observation, message relay, and light attack missions. It was the standard RAF army co-operation aircraft through the early 1930s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Message pick-up hook under rear fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- RAF army co-operation biplane, 1930s
- Message pick-up hook under rear fuselage
- Rolls-Royce Kestrel inline engine
Similar to the Hart but with a message pick-up hook beneath the rear fuselage and exhaust stacks modified for altitude. The Kestrel engine's external radiator under the nose and staggered unequal-span wings are characteristic Hawker Hart-family features.
Specifications
- The Hawker Audax has a length of 9.02 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.35 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 274 km/h (170 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering RAF service in 1932, the Audax equipped numerous squadrons in the UK and overseas, serving in India, Iraq, Egypt, and East Africa. Its Kestrel engine and Hawker's metal-framed structure gave it good reliability for the era.
Variants
The Audax was built in several marks for different overseas commands with locally suitable equipment; the type was also licence-built in Canada and for export to India and Iraq.
Where you'll see it
The Audax served widely with the RAF and with several Commonwealth and export air arms. It saw action during the Iraqi uprising of 1941, and some examples survived on second-line duties into World War II.
Related aircraft
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