The Hawker Harrier was a British experimental biplane torpedo bomber aircraft built by Hawker Aircraft to a specification issued in the 1920s for the Royal Air Force.
In 1925, the British Air Ministry laid down specifications for a high altitude bomber to replace the Hawker Horsley and for a coastal torpedo bomber (Specifications 23/25 and 24/25). As these specifications were similar, the Air Ministry announced that a single competition would be held to study aircraft submitted for both specifications.[1]
Sydney Camm of Hawker Aircraft designed the Harrier to meet the requirements of Specification 23/25, with the prototype (J8325) first flying in February 1927, the first of the competitors for the two specifications to fly.[1] The Harrier was a two-seat biplane with single-bay wings powered by a geared Bristol Jupiter VIII radial engine. It was armed with one .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun and one .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun carrying a maximum of 1,000 lb (450 kg) of bombs.[2]
The prototype Harrier was tested at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A & AEE) at Martlesham Heath in November 1927, where, while it met the requirements of Specification 23/25 and had satisfactory handling, the geared engine meant that it was underpowered,[2] and it had an inferior bombload to the Hawker Horsley, the aircraft it was meant to replace.[1] It was therefore modified to carry a torpedo. On testing the modified aircraft, however, it was found to still be underpowered, being incapable of taking off with a torpedo, gunner and full fuel load.[1] It was therefore not considered further, the competition ultimately being won by the Vickers Vildebeest.[3]
The prototype was used by Bristol as an engine testbed, flying with the 870 hp (650 kW) Bristol Hydra and the 495 hp (369 kW) Bristol Orion engines.[1]
Specifications (Harrier, as bomber)edit
Data from Mason, The British Bomber since 1914 [1]
Lewis, Peter (1980). The British Bomber since 1914 (Third ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN0-370-30265-6.
Mason, Francis K. (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN0-85177-861-5.
Mason, Francis K. (1991). Hawker Aircraft since 1920 (Third ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN0-85177-839-9.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hawker Harrier.
– British Aircraft Directory
May 04, 2024
hawker, harrier, harrier, jump, vertical, take, fighter, hawker, siddeley, harrier, british, experimental, biplane, torpedo, bomber, aircraft, built, hawker, aircraft, specification, issued, 1920s, royal, force, harrier, prototype, role, torpedo, bomber, natio. For the Harrier jump jet vertical take off fighter see Hawker Siddeley Harrier The Hawker Harrier was a British experimental biplane torpedo bomber aircraft built by Hawker Aircraft to a specification issued in the 1920s for the Royal Air Force Harrier Hawker Harrier prototype at A amp AEE Role Torpedo bomber National origin United Kingdom Manufacturer Hawker Aircraft Limited Designer Sydney Camm First flight February 1927 Number built 1 Contents 1 Development 2 Specifications Harrier as bomber 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksDevelopment editIn 1925 the British Air Ministry laid down specifications for a high altitude bomber to replace the Hawker Horsley and for a coastal torpedo bomber Specifications 23 25 and 24 25 As these specifications were similar the Air Ministry announced that a single competition would be held to study aircraft submitted for both specifications 1 Sydney Camm of Hawker Aircraft designed the Harrier to meet the requirements of Specification 23 25 with the prototype J8325 first flying in February 1927 the first of the competitors for the two specifications to fly 1 The Harrier was a two seat biplane with single bay wings powered by a geared Bristol Jupiter VIII radial engine It was armed with one 303 in 7 7 mm Vickers machine gun and one 303 in 7 7 mm Lewis gun carrying a maximum of 1 000 lb 450 kg of bombs 2 The prototype Harrier was tested at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment A amp AEE at Martlesham Heath in November 1927 where while it met the requirements of Specification 23 25 and had satisfactory handling the geared engine meant that it was underpowered 2 and it had an inferior bombload to the Hawker Horsley the aircraft it was meant to replace 1 It was therefore modified to carry a torpedo On testing the modified aircraft however it was found to still be underpowered being incapable of taking off with a torpedo gunner and full fuel load 1 It was therefore not considered further the competition ultimately being won by the Vickers Vildebeest 3 The prototype was used by Bristol as an engine testbed flying with the 870 hp 650 kW Bristol Hydra and the 495 hp 369 kW Bristol Orion engines 1 Specifications Harrier as bomber editData from Mason The British Bomber since 1914 1 General characteristicsCrew two Length 29 ft 7 in 9 02 m Wingspan 46 ft 3 in 14 10 m Height 13 ft 4 in 4 06 m Wing area 496 8 sq ft 46 15 m2 Empty weight 3 278 lb 1 487 kg Gross weight 5 656 lb 2 566 kg Fuel capacity 191 imp gal 229 US gal 870 L 4 Powerplant 1 Bristol Jupiter VIII nine cylinder geared radial engine 583 hp 435 kW Propellers 2 bladed Watts wooden propeller 12 ft 3 in 3 73 m diameter 4 Performance Maximum speed 135 mph 217 km h 117 kn at 6 500 ft 2 000 m Service ceiling 20 000 ft 6 100 m Time to altitude 18 min 30 s Armament Guns 1 forward firing 303 in 7 7 mm Vickers gun and 1 303 in 7 7 mm Lewis gun on Scarff ring in rear cockpit Bombs 4 4 250 lb 110 kg GP bombs or 8 112 lb 51 kg bombs or 1 Type VIII 2 844 lb 1 290 kg torpedoSee also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Blackburn Beagle Vickers VildebeestReferences editNotes edit a b c d e f Mason 1994 p 193 a b Lewis 1980 p 162 Mason 1994 p 200 a b c Mason 1991 p 148 Bibliography edit Lewis Peter 1980 The British Bomber since 1914 Third ed London Putnam ISBN 0 370 30265 6 Mason Francis K 1994 The British Bomber since 1914 London Putnam Aeronautical Books ISBN 0 85177 861 5 Mason Francis K 1991 Hawker Aircraft since 1920 Third ed London Putnam Aeronautical Books ISBN 0 85177 839 9 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hawker Harrier Hawker Harrier British Aircraft Directory Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hawker Harrier amp oldid 1165854564, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
