Hawker Henley
Hawker Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1937 · bomber
The Hawker Henley was a British two-seat aircraft derived from the Hawker Hurricane. It was designed as a light bomber and dive-bomber but was used by the RAF as a target tug.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Hurricane-style single-engined monoplane with a two-seat cockpit
- Retractable tailwheel undercarriage
- Merlin engine in the nose
It looks like a Hurricane with a longer, two-seat cockpit and a retractable tailwheel.
Specifications
- The Hawker Henley has a length of 11.1 m (36 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.59 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 473 km/h (294 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Air Ministry Specification P.4/34 of 1934 called for a light bomber that could also dive-bomb. To save cost Hawker shared the outer wing panels and tailplanes with the Hurricane and used the Rolls-Royce Merlin. The prototype first flew on 10 March 1937 at Brooklands.
Variants
The Henley was developed into the Hawker Hotspur. The prototype was also used as an engine test bed, fitted with a Rolls-Royce Vulture.
Where you'll see it
The Air Ministry dropped the light bomber requirement, and the Henley was relegated to target towing. 202 were built, and it served with the RAF until 1945.
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