Hawker Horsley

Hawker Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1925 · bomber

The Hawker Horsley was a British two-seat day bomber and torpedo bomber biplane that served the RAF in the second half of the 1920s. It was one of the more capable aircraft of its era, with sufficient range and bomb load for both land and maritime strike roles.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	11.43 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

1920s RAF torpedo and day bomber biplane
Rolls-Royce Condor or Napier Lion engine
Large chin radiator and unequal-span wings

A large single-engine biplane with notably unequal wing spans, the upper wing being considerably longer than the lower. The large chin-mounted radiator and the general robustness of the airframe are characteristic; torpedo-carrying examples show the weapon on a centreline rack.

Specifications

The Hawker Horsley has a length of 11.43 m (37 ft).
It has a wingspan of 17.22 m (56 ft).
Its maximum speed is 209 km/h (130 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flying in 1925, the Horsley entered RAF service in 1927 and equipped several home-based bomber squadrons as well as coastal torpedo squadrons. A floatplane variant was also evaluated, and a small number were exported to Greece.

Variants

The Mk I and Mk II differed in engine type — Rolls-Royce Condor or Napier Lion — and the floatplane version was tested with Napier Lion power.

Where you'll see it

The Horsley served with the RAF from 1927 until the early 1930s, equipping both day bomber and torpedo bomber squadrons. Greece purchased a small batch for coastal patrol.

Related aircraft

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