Hawker Horsley II
Hawker · United Kingdom · first flew 1925 · bomber
The Hawker Horsley was a large single-engined biplane designed to serve as both a day bomber and torpedo bomber with the RAF in the mid-1920s. It was a capable and robust aircraft that represented the transition from WWI-era designs to more purposeful interwar types.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.84 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large two-bay biplane with equal-span wings
- Single inline engine with long exhaust stacks
- Open tandem cockpits with large lower wing
The large two-bay equal-span biplane configuration with a prominent single inline engine, long exhaust pipes along the fuselage sides, and tandem open cockpits are the defining visual features.
Specifications
- The Hawker Horsley II has a length of 11.84 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.22 m (56 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Horsley first flew in 1925 and entered RAF service in 1927, equipping several day bomber squadrons. It was capable of carrying a torpedo, making it dual-role from the outset. The Horsley Mk II introduced the Rolls-Royce Condor engine and remained in front-line service until replaced by the Hawker Hart in the early 1930s.
Variants
The Horsley I used the Rolls-Royce Condor IIIA; the Mk II featured detail improvements; a floatplane torpedo version was evaluated but not adopted in large numbers.
Where you'll see it
RAF Horsleys served in home-based bomber squadrons through the late 1920s and were also exported to Greece; they were withdrawn from first-line service by 1934 as modern monoplane types became available.
Related aircraft
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