| Hawfinch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Hawker Aircraft |
| Designer | |
| Status | Prototype only |
| Number built | One |
| History | |
| First flight | March 1927 |
TheHawker Hawfinch was a British single-engined biplane fighter of the 1920s. It was unsuccessful, with theBristol Bulldog being selected instead.
The Hawker Hawfinch fighter aircraft was designed in 1925 as a replacement for both theArmstrong-Whitworth Siskin and theGloster Gamecock fighters. It participated in the competition to meetSpecification F9/26, together with other aircraft manufacturers, that included nine different designs, of which five were built.[1] The Hawfinch first flew in March 1927.[2] TheBristol Bulldog and the Hawfinch were considered to be the best of the aircraft evaluated, and were selected for more detailed evaluation. The contract was finally awarded to theBristol Bulldog, because of its slightly higher maximum speed as well as being easier to maintain.[3] After the completion of the competition, the prototype Hawfinch was used for experimental purposes, being tested with single-bay wings and with a twin-float undercarriage.
Only one prototype was built.
The Hawfinch was a two-baybiplane with staggered wings. The structure was the patented Hawker metal tube & "fishplate" system, with fabric covering. It was the first all-metal fighter to be built by Hawker. The powerplant was initially aBristol Jupiter VI engine, but this was changed to a Jupiter VII (450 hp/336 kW) before the performance trials. The armament consisted of twoVickers machine guns synchronised to fire through the propeller.
Data from[1]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
