Hawker Harrier

infobox Aircraft
name = Harrier
type = Torpedo Bomber
manufacturer = Hawker Aircraft Limited



caption = Hawker Harrier prototype at A &AEE
designer = Sydney Camm
first flight = February 1927
status = Prototype
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = One
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =

The Hawker Harrier was an experimental biplane torpedo bomber aircraft built by Hawker Aircraft to a specification issued in the 1920s for the RAF.

Development

In avyear|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. Mason 1994, p.193.

Sydney Camm of Hawker Aircraft designed the Harrier to meet the requirements of Specification 23/25, with the prototype ("J8325") first flying in February avyear|1927, the first of the competitors to the two specifications to . The Harrier was a two seat biplsne with single bay wings powered by a geared Bristol Jupiter VIII. It was armed with one Vickers machine gun and one Lewis gun carrying a maximum of 1,000 lb (~500 kg) of bombs. Lewis 1980, p.162.]

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, and it had an inferior bombload to the Hawker Horsley, the aircraft it was meant to replace. 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 torpedo, gunner and a full fuel load. It was therefore not considered further, the competition ultimately being won by the Vickers Vildebeest. Mason 1994, p.200.]

The prototype was used by Bristol as an engine testbed, flying with the 870 hp Bristol Hydra and the 495 hp Bristol Orion engines.

pecifications (Harrier (Bomber))

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Mason, The British Bomber since 1914
crew= Two
capacity=
length main= 29 ft 7 in
length alt= 9.02 m
span main= 46 ft 3 in
span alt= 14.10 m
height main= 13 ft 4 in
height alt= 4.07 m
area main= 497 ft²
area alt= 46.2 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 3,278 lb
empty weight alt= 1,490 kg
loaded weight main= 5,656 lb
loaded weight alt= 2,561 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)= Bristol Jupiter VIII
type of prop= nine cylinder radial engine
number of props=1
power main= 583 hp
power alt= 435 kW
power original=
max speed main= 117 knots
max speed alt= 135 mph, 217 km/h
max speed more at 6,500 ft
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main= 20,000 ft
ceiling alt= 6,100 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= 11.4 lb/ft²
loading alt= 55.4 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.103 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.170 kW/kg
more performance=*Climb to 10,000 ft (3050 m): 18 min 30 sec
armament=*One forward firing Vickers gun and one Lewis gun on Scarff ring in rear cockpit.
*"either" one torpedo "or" 1,000 lb bombs
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
* Vickers Vildebeest
sequence=
lists =
see also=

References

*cite book |title= The British Bomber since 1914|last= Lewis|first= Peter|edition= Third edition |year= 1980|publisher=Putnam |location= London|isbn= 0 370 30265 6|pages=
*Cite book |author=Mason, Francis K |title=The British Bomber since 1914 |publisher=Putnam Aeronautical Books|location=London |year=1994 |isbn= 0 85177 861 5

External links

* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=486 British Aircraft Directory]