Hawker Hornbill

Hornbill
Role	Fighter
Manufacturer	Hawker Aircraft
Designer	W. G. Carter
First flight	July 1925
Status	Prototype only
Number built	One

The Hawker Hornbill was the last Hawker military aircraft designed under the direction of W. G. Carter. The design was started in 1925 and the first flight took place in July 1925. The Hornbill did not achieve service in the Royal Air Force due to problems in its power plant and radiator. Only one aircraft was built.

Construction

The Hornbill had a mixed material construction, having a steel engine mount and front fuselage covered with duralumin sheet. The rear fuselage was made of wood structure covered with canvas. The wings also were of wood and canvas. The engine was a 698 hp (520 kW) Rolls-Royce Condor IV driving a fine pitch wooden propeller.

Performance

The aircraft was very fast but lacking in stability and control. At 150 mph (241 km/h), steep turns could not be made without applying full rudder. Engine overheating occurred during flight tests. The single centrally mounted radiator was replaced by two radiators mounted in the lower inner wings, but the problem was not fully cured. The small size of the cockpit restricted the movement of the pilot.

Specifications (Hornbill)

Data from The British Fighter since 1912

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 26ft 7¼ in (8.11 m)
• Wingspan: 31 ft 0 in (9.45 m)
• Height: 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m)
• Wing area: 317 ft² (29.5 m²)
• Empty weight: 2,975 lb (1,349 kg)
• Loaded weight: 3,769 lb (1,710 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 3,820 lb (1,736 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Condor IV water cooled V-12, 698 hp (520 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 163 kn (187 mph, 301 km/h) at sea level
• Range: 174 nmi (200 mi, 322 km)
• Service ceiling: 22,700 ft (6,920 m)
  
• Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 6 min 30 sec

Armament

• Guns: 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers Mk 2 machine gun

References

• Hawker Aircraft since 1920 by Francis K Mason - pub Putnam 1961