Hawker "Osprey" (Rolls-Royce "Kestrel" II M.S.).

A two-seater, the "Osprey" uses a moderately-supercharged "Kestrel" of 525 h.p.
HAWKER OSPREY IV: Fleet fighter reconnaissance (Kestrel V engine - 640 h.p. at 14,000ft.); span, 37ft.; gross weight, 4,970 lb.; max. speed, 173 m.p.h. at 16,400ft.

The Hawker Osprey, Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine. The standard two-seater Fleet Fighter Reconnaissance machine of the Fleet Air Arm. There are both land and seaplane versions.

The Hawker Osprey is a two-seater fleet fighter with 600 h.p. Kestrel V engine.

A unique formation of eight Service types which are normally to be found at Gosport. They are, reading from the top of the picture, Vildebeest, Osprey, Shark, Tutor, Avro 504N, Swordfish, Nimrod and Magister.

The prototype Hawker Osprey S1677 underwent trials with a landplane undercarriage at Brooklands in 1931/32.

The deck-landing variant of the Hart was the Hawker Osprey two-seat carrier-borne seaplane fighter. It was available both as a landplane and a floatplane and had folding wings.

Изображенный самолет был поставлен в рамках первой производственной партии из 20 машин Osprey Mk I. Самолет попал в 803-ю эскадрилью, приписанную к авианосцу "Игл".
Osprey I S1681, the third production aircraft, served with No. 803 Squadron and is seen over its parent ship, H.M.S. "Eagle"
A perfectly positioned photograph of a Hawker Osprey reconnaissance biplane with HMS Eagle in the background.

A Hawker Osprey fleet fighter reconnaissance machine (R.-R. Kestrel) making a mock attack during Navy week on the cruiser Coventry, one of our special anti-aircraft vessels.

Hawker "Ospreys" Rolls-Royce

Hawker Ospreys operating from H.M.S. Glorious beneath a Mediterranean sky that has temporarily veiled its proverbial cloudlessness.

A Hawker Osprey Mk I, serialled S1687, and possibly with No 404 Flight aboard Courageous, takes off with "Skins" and "Harvey” in the cockpits. The Osprey was a fleet spotter/reconnaissance aircraft, and deliveries to the FAA began in 1932. Visible in this picture are the interplane jury struts near the wing roots, used when the wings were folded, but often left in position while the aircraft was being flown.

AIRCRAFT TYPES TO BE SEEN IN THE "EAGLE": 3, The Hawker "Osprey," with Rolls-Royce "Kestrel" engine.

Hawker Osprey I S1687 outside the Brooklands flight sheds in October 1932.

Stainless-steel Osprey III S199.

Hawker Osprey III K4334 of 802 Sqn, taken probably at Hal Far, Malta. Delivered to the RAF during the summer of 1935, it was transferred to Admiralty charge in May 1939.

This Hawker Osprey III carrier-borne fighter, K3652, is seen high and dry at Cranwell during a visit there in 1935. It was delivered to 802 Sqn FA A in 1934 and ended its days at Orkvenica in Yugoslavia on July 29, 1938.

Hawker's demonstrator G-AEBD, re-engined with a Hispano 12Xbrs, was sold to Spain as EA-KAJ and served on the Republican side in the Civil War. Other exports - Sweden 4 aircraft, Portugal 2

Hawker Osprey G-AEBD was fitted with a 595 h.p. Hispano Suiza 12Nbr engine for demonstration in Spain, where it was eventually sold in June, 1936.

Four Osprey IIIs, K3616-3619, were delivered to the R.A.F for communications duties with No. 24 Squadron and later served with No. 1 C.A.A.C.U., as shown here
Hawker Ospreys of No. 1 Coast Artillery Co­operation Unit in their un­usual camouflage.

A Hawker Osprey being loaded on to the catapult at Leuchars

An Osprey, with engine running, being lowered on to the Leuchars catapult.

Hawker Osprey I S1680 is lowered, with its Rolls-Royce Kestrel V running, onto the cordite-fired catapult at RAF Leuchars.

The pilot is seen climbing to his cockpit while a Naval instructor waits to give the launching signal.
Hawker Osprey S1680 is ready and waiting on the same catapult; a Naval instructor waits to give the launching signal.

Up She comes: The observer has attached the lifting tackle and the crane is raising the aircraft out of the water.

The catapult retracted and the aircraft being lowered on to it by the crane.

The Hawker Osprey fleet fighter reconnaissance machine as a seaplane on a cruiser's catapult.

"OSPREY" ON AUSTRALIAN TRIP: The Hawker "Osprey" seaplane (Rolls-Royce "Kestrel" II.M.S.) on the catapult of H.M.S. "Sussex."

Floatplanes are used for catapulting off cruisers and capital ships. This Flight photograph shows a two-seater fighter-reconnaissance Osprey stowed on its catapult on board H.M.S. Leander, a 7,000-ton cruiser.

The rigger removing jury struts before a flight

One of our own Hawker Ospreys warming up.

Ready to take off : The "Osprey" at the rear stops of the catapult with engine running and pilot and observer bracing themselves in the cockpits.

The catapult extended in both directions, and the Hawker "Osprey" ("Kestrel" engine), heading into the wind. The Forth Bridge is in the background.

Osprey I seaplane K2777 from R.N. Catapult Flights

Osprey I seaplane S1688 from R.N. Catapult Flights

THE WATCH FROM ABOVE: Four Hawker Osprey IV fleet fighter reconnaissance seaplanes with 600/640 h.p. fully supercharged Kestrel V engines over Alexandria Harbour. Machines of this type are carried by a number of warships of the Mediteranean fleet; with wheel undercarriages they are operated in large numbers from aircraft carriers.

FISH HAWK. A Hawker Osprey IV fleet fighter reconnaissance floatplane of the Mediterranean Cruiser Squadron in company with another of its species. The machine is the most recent version of the Osprey to go into service and is fitted with the supercharged 600/640 h.p. Rolls Royce Kestrel V engine.

A FLIGHT OF THE SEAPLANE TRAINING SQUADRON: "Osprey" and "Seal" led by "Tutor."

MEDITERRANEAN MEDLEY. Two Supermarine Seagull Vs, three Fairey III Fs, and four Hawker Ospreys, all catapulted from ships of the Mediterranean Fleet, in the act of assuming a line abreast formation over Alexandria. The official name of the Seagull V, when used by the Fleet Air Arm, is Walrus; the original title for it is retained by Australia.

AFTER THE FLIGHT: The "Osprey" is taxying back to be hoisted on board.

A Hawker 'Osprey' (Rolls-Royce engine) of the Mediterranean catapult squadron

ON THE SLIPWAY: An "Osprey" is about to be beached, and airmen are arranging the trolleys under the floats.

Hawker Osprey IV K5760 at Hamilton, Ontario on June 20, 1937 having flown in from HMS Apollo, probably attached to No 718 Catapult Flight, relegated to an instructional airframe in November 1938 as 1172M. Though designed as a two-seat carrier-borne or seaplane fighter-reconnaissance aircraft, the Osprey spent its latter years target-towing and as a trainer, finally being declared obsolete in 1940.

  

in from HMS York. Originally attached to the School of Naval Co-operation, this Walrus later served with 718 Catapult Flight until destroyed in a crash on September 27, 1938.

A superb shot of the Hawker Osprey IV K5746 taken at Hamilton, Ontario on June 20, 1937. The Osprey served with Nos 443 and 718 Catapult Flights and was struck off RAF charge in December 1937.

В 1933 году Osprey появились на многих кораблях. За 37 самолетами Osprey типа Mk I последовали 14 Mk II (с новыми поплавками) и 52 - Mk III (на фотографии). Mk III стал самым массовым вариантом, каркас его фюзеляжа для повышения коррозийной устойчивости выполнили из нержавеющей стали.

Fitters and riggers at work on a Hawker Osprey.

A Hawker "Osprey" (Rolls-Royce "Kestrel" engines) and two Fleet Trainers (Kinner engine) of the Naval Air Service of Portugal.

CRAFT OF THE SEAPLANE TRAINING SQUADRON: The machines from left to right are Fairey "Seal," Avro "Tutor," Saro "Cloud," Hawker "Osprey" and Supermarine "Southampton."

There were two interesting "single-float jobs" to be seen at Felixstowe last Saturday. They were the Fairey S.9/30 with steam-cooled Kestrel and the Hawker Osprey.

Members of the crew of the Swedish aircraft carrier Gotland pose for Flight beneath their Ospreys.

Hawker Ospreys reposing on the after deck of H.M.S. Gotland, the Swedish navy's aircraft carrier. The catapult is said to be capable of getting eight machines in the air in five minutes.
The system of tracks leading to the catapult is visible. In the foreground are rails for the reception of the empty trolleys. The catapult is of German manufacture and is operated by compressed air.

The stern of the Gotland is of somewhat unusual formation. This view shows the crane and the two folded Ospreys.

This picture indicates the length of deck occupied by the aeroplane tracks and the catapult.

Hawker Osprey SE-AYR, photographed in the late Forties, has recently been recovered for restoration in Sweden.

The single-float Osprey III, S1700, tested at Felixstowe

THE HAWKER STAND: On the right the "Hart" ("Kestrel") of No. 57 Squadron, which has done 740 hours' flying. In the foreground the stainless steel fuselage for the "Osprey," which is one of the greatest attractions of the Show.

Two views of Hawker Osprey K3652 being fished out of the drink, presumably by HMS Glorious. This aircraft ended its days after it crashed while alighting at Orkvenica, Yugoslavia on July 29, 1938 - perhaps this is the incident?

‘Hawker Twins’ by Roy Cross

A Hawker Osprey (Rolls-Royce Kestrel) being launched from a catapult

Pegasus engines are being fitted by the Royal Swedish Air Force in Hawker "Osprey" machines for fighting and reconnaissance with the Swedish aircraft cruiser "Gotland" and in Hawker "Hart" machines for service with the military branch.

This series of sketches, specially prepared by Flight, shows the various types of gear and the flotation angles of certain R.A.F. machines. Those fitted with Youngman dinghies, of course, do not sink immediately.

In this series of sketches may be seen what happens when a Hawker Osprey fitted with a Youngman dinghy is "ditched" - not that Osprey pilots make a habit of that sort of thing. This particular Osprey is in luck's way, for a salvage boat is soon on the scene.

The layout of the automatic and manual operation arrangements on the Hawker Osprey may be seen in this Flight diagram. One actuator is always placed as far forward as possible, and its twin as low as convenient.

On the Hawker Osprey the Youngman dinghy is carried in a box between the spars of the top starboard main plane. This view shows the complete installation of the box and the slinging gear in the centre section.