Hawker Hart Mk I
Hawker · United Kingdom · first flew 1928 · bomber
The Hawker Hart was a two-seat light day bomber that, when introduced in 1930, was faster than any RAF fighter then in service. It became the most widely used British military aircraft of the early 1930s and spawned a large family of variants.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.94 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-seat single-bay biplane with Kestrel inline engine
- Prominent exhaust stacks on left side of cowling
- Observer's open cockpit with Scarff ring gun mounting
Distinguished from the Fury by its longer two-seat fuselage, the rear observer's cockpit with gun ring, and the wider chord lower wing; the Kestrel engine with exhaust pipes emerging from the port cowl side is a constant feature.
Specifications
- The Hawker Hart Mk I has a length of 8.94 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.35 m (37 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in June 1928, the Hart entered service with No. 33 Squadron in 1930. Its exceptional performance embarrassed the RAF fighter establishment and led directly to the Hawker Fury fighter. Large numbers were built and the type served extensively on the North-West Frontier of India and in the Middle East.
Variants
The Hart family generated numerous derivatives including the Demon fighter, Audax army cooperation aircraft, Hind updated bomber, Osprey naval variant, Hardy general purpose aircraft, and the Hector.
Where you'll see it
Harts served with the RAF in the Middle East and India through the late 1930s, and were exported to Estonia, Egypt, Sweden, South Africa, Yugoslavia and India; South African Harts flew operations in East Africa in 1940-41.
Related aircraft
- Fury
- Hawker Fury I
- Hawker Horsley II
- Hawker Hurricane
- Beardmore Inflexible
- BFW M.22
- Caproni Ca.101
- Fairey Fox Floatplane
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