Hawker Hector

Hawker Hector. The Hawker Hector was a British army co-operation biplane designed by Sydney Camm and built by Hawker Aircraft during the 1930s. It served as a stop-gap aircraft for the Royal Air Force, replacing the older Hawker Audax and Lysander in some roles before being supplanted by more modern types. Primarily used for aerial reconnaissance and artillery spotting, the Hector saw operational service in the early stages of the Second World War.

Development and design

The Hector was developed to meet Air Ministry Specification 14/35, which called for a new army co-operation aircraft. The design was essentially a derivative of the earlier Hawker Hart but was powered by the new Napier Dagger H-engine, an unconventional 24-cylinder powerplant. This engine choice, overseen by chief designer Sydney Camm, was intended to provide greater power but proved problematic in service. The airframe retained the classic Hawker biplane structure, with fabric-covered metal wings and a steel tube fuselage framework. Armament typically consisted of one forward-firing Vickers machine gun and one Lewis Gun on a Scarff ring in the rear cockpit for the observer. The prototype, converted from a Hart airframe, first flew from Brooklands on 14 February 1936.

Operational history

Entering service with No. 4 Squadron RAF in February 1937, the Hector equipped a total of seven Army Co-operation Command squadrons within the Royal Air Force. Its service was relatively brief, as the type was already considered obsolete upon introduction, with the Westland Lysander slated as its replacement. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Hectors were deployed to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force, performing reconnaissance missions during the Phoney War. They saw action during the Battle of France, with some aircraft conducting hazardous low-level attacks against advancing German columns during the Battle of Dunkirk. Following the Dunkirk evacuation, all Hectors were withdrawn from frontline RAF service by the end of 1940, thereafter being used for target tug and communication duties.

Variants

The primary production variant was the **Hector I**, of which 179 were built. All aircraft were constructed by Westland Aircraft under subcontract, as Hawker's factories were occupied with producing the Hawker Hurricane. A single prototype, converted from a Hart, was used for initial flight testing. No other major variants were produced, though some aircraft were later modified for secondary roles such as target towing and liaison work after their withdrawal from combat units.

Operators

The principal operator was the Royal Air Force. Key squadrons included No. 4 Squadron RAF, No. 13 Squadron RAF, No. 26 Squadron RAF, No. 53 Squadron RAF, No. 59 Squadron RAF, No. 601 Squadron RAF, and No. 613 Squadron RAF. Following its RAF retirement, a small number of Hectors were transferred to the Royal Irish Air Corps, where they served into the mid-1940s. The aircraft was not exported to any other foreign air forces.

Specifications (Hector I)

* **Crew:** 2 (pilot and observer/gunner) * **Length:** 29 ft 0 in (8.84 m) * **Wingspan:** 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m) * **Height:** 10 ft 5 in (3.17 m) * **Wing area:** 348 sq ft (32.3 m²) * **Empty weight:** 3,250 lb (1,474 kg) * **Gross weight:** 4,860 lb (2,204 kg) * **Powerplant:** 1 × Napier Dagger III H-engine, 805 hp (600 kW) * **Maximum speed:** 187 mph (301 km/h, 162 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) * **Range:** 312 mi (502 km, 271 nmi) * **Service ceiling:** 24,000 ft (7,300 m) * **Armament:** 1 × fixed, forward-firing .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun; 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Gun on Scarff ring mount in rear cockpit * **Bombs:** Up to 500 lb (230 kg) of light bombs on underwing racks

Category:1930s British military aircraft