Air Enthusiast 2001-11
K.Wixey - Hart Of The Matter (1)
Vickers-built Hart I K2467 joined 57 Squadron in May 1933. It remained operational with the RAF until mid-1939.
Hart K2434 was test-bed for the Napier Dagger series. The engine/airframe combination resulted in design and production of the Hawker Hector.
Hart Jupiter test-bed, G-ABTN, with a 450hp (335kW) Bristol Jupiter XFAM nine-cylinder, radial,
The Hart prototype, J9052, in two-seat day bomber configuration at Brooklands in 1928.
From the first production batch Hart bomber J9937 was delivered to 33 Squadron, RAF, on February 25, 1930. Notice the bomb-aiming panel beneath fuselage just ahead of the roundel.
The fourth Hart test-bed, the anonymous private venture example with a Panther IIa of 1931.
Hart K3036 at Brooklands in 1935 with a Rolls-Royce PV12 and Watts airscrew fitted
The Bristol engine test-bed Hart, K3020, at Filton, with a Mercury VIS2. The Hart proved a very suitable airframe for test-bed purposes.
Flying over the very hostile terrain of India's North West Frontier in the 1930s, Hart India K2104 of 11 Squadron. Note the pilot's pith helmet and the underwing 'stores' carriers.
Also operating from Risalpur at the time was No 11 Squadron whose Hart (India) K2104 is shown in the mountains north of Amritsar and equipped with underwing supply panniers
Hart G-ABMR appearing at a gathering in June 1951 - it is now in the RAF Museum.
A number of Harts that served with the RAF in India were transferred to the Indian Air Force.
Hart K1102 at Brooklands, fitted with an evaporate cooling system, clearly visible on the upper and lower wing leading edges. The cabin protected crews from the shower of water droplets emitted from the system.
In 1934 Hawker Hart K3012, powered by an air-cooled Bristol Pegasus radial, was shipped to Canada for cold weather trials. To protect the crew in very adverse climatic conditions, a special canopy was built to cover both cockpits. It was tested in Canada on skis as well as wheels
Hawker-built Swedish Hart 1303 at the MAEE, Felixstowe, fitted with Short S.51 floats.
First production Hawker Audax I K1995 at Brooklands, from where it made its first flight on December 29, 1931.
FOREIGN APPRECIATION: One of the Hawker types supplied to foreign air forces. An Iraqi "Audax" ("Pegasus").
Hawker Iraqi Audax, note the Osprey-type tail unit and message pick-up hook fitted to landing gear spreader bar.
Avro-built Audax I K7424 serving with 1 Service Flying Training School, Netheravon, November 1941.
Standing on Gloster's Hucclecote airfield, the first of 25 Audax Indias, K4838.
P W S 'George' Bulman in Audax K2012, one of a batch of 40 delivered between December 1931 and June 1932. Note the message hook deployed.
It took just over a week to convert Hart K1438 into the prototype Audax in May 1931.