View source for Hawker Hind

{{Short description|1934 bomber airplane family by Hawker}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = Hind
  |image =Hawker Hind K5414 (Shuttleworth Uncovered).jpg|caption = Hawker Hind (Afghan), [[Shuttleworth Collection]]
  |type = Light bomber, trainer
  |national_origin = United Kingdom
  |manufacturer = [[Hawker Aircraft|Hawker Aircraft Limited]]
  |designer = [[Sydney Camm]]
  |first_flight = 12 September 1934
  |introduction = 1935
  |retired = 1955 (Afghanistan)
  |status =
  |primary_user = [[Royal Air Force]]
  |more_users = [[Iran]]<br />[[New Zealand]]<br />[[South Africa]]
  |produced = 1935–1938
  |number_built = 528
  |unit cost =
  |developed_from = [[Hawker Hart]]
  |variants = [[Hawker Hector]]<br />[[Hawker P.V.4]]
}}

The '''Hawker Hind''' is a British light bomber of the inter-war years produced by [[Hawker Aircraft]] for the [[Royal Air Force]]. It was developed from the [[Hawker Hart]] day bomber introduced in [[1931 in aviation|1931]].

==Design and development==

An improved Hawker Hart bomber defined by [[List of Air Ministry Specifications|Specification G.7/34]], was purchased by the RAF as an interim aircraft, while more modern monoplane bombers such as the [[Fairey Battle]] were still in development. Structural elements were a mixture of steel and [[duralumin]] with the wings being fabric covered; the main differences compared to the earlier Hart was a new powerplant, (the Rolls-Royce Kestrel V) and the inclusion of refinements from the earlier derivatives such as the cut-down rear cockpit developed for the [[Hawker Hart#Demon|Demon]]. The prototype ([[United Kingdom military aircraft serials|Serial number]] ''K2915'') was constructed very rapidly due to Hawker's development work for other proposals and made its first flight on 12 September 1934. A variety of changes were subsequently incorporated ("ram's horn" exhaust manifolds, [[Fairey Aviation Company|Fairey-Reed]] metal propeller and engine improvements) with the first production Hind (''K4636'') flown on 4 September 1935.

==Operational history==

[[File:HawkerHindShuttleworth2004.jpg|thumb|left|Shuttleworth's Hind (Afghan)]]
The Hind went into service in November 1935 and eventually equipped 20 RAF bomber squadrons. A number were also sold to foreign customers including [[Afghanistan]], the [[Republic of Ireland]], [[Latvia]], [[Iran|Persia]] (Iran), [[Portugal]], [[South African Air Force|South Africa]], [[Switzerland]], and [[Yugoslavia]]. By [[1937 in aviation|1937]], the Hind was being phased out of front line service, replaced by the Fairey Battle and [[Bristol Blenheim]], with many of the Auxiliary Air Force squadrons changing their role to fighter or maritime patrol units. At the outbreak of the [[World War II|Second World War]], [[No. 613 Squadron RAF|613 Squadron]] retained the Hind for army co-operation before re-equipping with the Hart derivative, the [[Hawker Hector]], in November 1939.<ref>[http://192.5.30.122/history/h613.html "History of No. 613 Squadron."]{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Royal Air Force Air Historical Branch''. Retrieved: 13 January 2008.</ref>

The Hind found a new career in [[1938 in aviation|1938]] as a training aircraft, representing the next step up from basic training on [[Tiger Moth (plane)|Tiger Moths]]. It continued in use as an intermediate trainer during the war. Hind trainers were also operated by [[Canada]] and [[New Zealand]]. In 1941, Hinds flew operations in their original role as light bombers against Axis forces. South African Hinds were employed against Italian forces in Kenya during the [[East African Campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]] and Yugoslav Hinds were used against the Germans and Italians. Iranian Hinds were used briefly against Allied forces during the [[Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran]]. Imperial Iranian Air Force bases were occupied by the Allies and their aircraft were destroyed or dismantled by the invading British. Hawker Hind aircraft were also used by the Afghan government to suppress the [[Afghan tribal revolts of 1944–1947|tribal revolts of 1944–1947]].

==Variants==
[[File:A Hawker Hind of Air Force of Iran.jpg|thumb|right|A Bristol Mercury-engined Hind of the [[Imperial Iranian Air Force]]]]
;Hind Mk I
:Two-seat light bomber aircraft for the [[RAF]], powered by a 477&nbsp;kW (640&nbsp;hp) [[Rolls-Royce Kestrel]] piston engine.
;Afghan Hind
:Similar to the Hind Mk I, four aircraft fitted with Rolls-Royce Kestrel V engines, plus another four aircraft fitted with Kestrel UDR engines; eight built for Afghanistan.
;Latvian Hind
:Two-seat training aircraft, powered by a [[Bristol Mercury]] IX radial piston-engine; three built for Latvia.
;Persian Hind
:Modified version of the Hind Mk I, powered by a Bristol Mercury VIII radial piston-engine; 35 built for Persia.
;Portuguese Hind
:Similar to the Hind Mk I, two aircraft built as bombers, two aircraft built as trainers; four built for Portugal.
;Swiss Hind
:Two-seat unarmed communications aircraft; one built for Switzerland.
;Yugoslav Hind
:Modified version of the Hind Mk I, two aircraft fitted with Rolls-Royce Kestrel XVI piston-engines, one aircraft fitted with a [[Gnome-Rhone Mistral]] engine; three built for Yugoslavia.

==Operators==
{{acopmap|Hind|Hind operators}}
;{{flag|Kingdom of Afghanistan|name=Afghanistan}}
* [[Afghan Air Force|Royal Afghan Air Force]] acquired 8 aircraft in 1938, the final example retiring in 1956<ref>{{cite web |last1=Astin |first1=Robert |title=Anglo-Italian Competition: The sale of military aircraft to Kabul |url=http://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/2016/12/anglo-italian-competition-the-sale-of-military-aircraft-to-kabul.html |website=British Library |access-date=25 November 2018 |date=8 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="RAFM" />
;{{flag|Canada|1921}}
* [[Royal Canadian Air Force]]
;{{flagcountry|Iran|1925}}
* [[Imperial Iranian Air Force]]
;{{IRL}}
* [[Irish Air Corps]]
;{{LAT}}
* [[Latvian Air Force]]
;{{NZL}}
* [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] acquired 78 aircraft of which 63 entered service, primarily as trainers 1940–1943. The other 15 were lost to enemy action in transit.
** No. 3 F.T.S. Ohakea RNZAF
** [[No. 6 Squadron RNZAF]]<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
** No. 20 Squadron RNZAF<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
** No. 21 Squadron RNZAF<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
** [[No. 22 Squadron RNZAF]]
;{{POR}}
* [[Portugal Air Force]]
;{{flag|South Africa|1928}}
* [[South African Air Force]]
;{{SUI}}
* [[Swiss Air Force]]
;{{UK}}
*[[Royal Air Force]]<ref name="mason bomber p261"/>
{{Columns-start|num=2}}
:*[[No. 12 Squadron RAF]] - October 1936 to February 1938<ref name="thetaerop38">Thetford ''Aeroplane Monthly'' August 1995, p. 38</ref>
:*[[No. 15 Squadron RAF]] - March 1936 to July 1938<ref name="thetaerop38"/>
:*[[No. 18 Squadron RAF]] - April 1936 to May 1939<ref name="thetaerop38"/>
:*[[No. 21 Squadron RAF]] - December 1935 to August 1938<ref name="thetaerop38"/>
:*[[No. 24 Squadron RAF]] - Communications use.<ref name="thetaerop43">Thetford ''Aeroplane Monthly'' August 1995, p. 43</ref>
:*[[No. 34 Squadron RAF]] - January 1936 to July 1938<ref name="thetaerop38"/>
:*[[No. 40 Squadron RAF]] - March 1936 to August 1938<ref name="thetaerop38"/>
:*[[No. 44 Squadron RAF]] - March 1937 to December 1937<ref name="thetaerop38"/>
:*[[No. 49 Squadron RAF]] - February 1936 to December 1938<ref name="thetaerop39">Thetford ''Aeroplane Monthly'' August 1995, p. 39</ref>
:*[[No. 50 Squadron RAF]] - May 1937 to January 1939<ref name="thetaerop39"/>
:*[[No. 52 Squadron RAF]] - January 1937 to December 1937<ref name="thetaerop39"/>
:*[[No. 57 Squadron RAF]] - March 1936 to May 1938<ref name="thetaerop39"/>
:*[[No. 62 Squadron RAF]] - May 1937 to March 1938<ref name="thetaerop39"/>
:*[[No. 63 Squadron RAF]] - February 1937 to April 1937<ref name="thetaerop39"/>
:*[[No. 64 Squadron RAF]]
:*[[No. 82 Squadron RAF]] - June 1937 to March 1938<ref name="thetaerop39"/>
:*[[No. 83 Squadron RAF]] - March 1936 to December 1938<ref name="thetaerop39"/>
:*[[No. 88 Squadron RAF]] - June 1937 to December 1937<ref name="thetaerop39"/>
:*[[No. 90 Squadron RAF]] - March 1937 to June 1937<ref name="thetaerop39"/>
:*[[No. 98 Squadron RAF]] - February 1936 to June 1938<ref name="thetaerop39"/>
:*[[No. 103 Squadron RAF]] - August 1936 to August 1938<ref name="thetaerop39"/>
:*[[No. 104 Squadron RAF]] - January 1936 to May 1938<ref name="thetaerop39"/>
:*[[No. 106 Squadron RAF]] - One flight operated June 1938 to July 1938<ref name="thetaerop42">Thetford ''Aeroplane Monthly'' August 1995, p. 42</ref>
:*[[No. 107 Squadron RAF]] - September 1936 to September 1938<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
{{Column}}
:*[[No. 108 Squadron RAF]] - January 1937 to June 1938<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 110 Squadron RAF]] - May 1937 to January 1938<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 113 Squadron RAF]] - May 1937 to June 1939<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 114 Squadron RAF]] - December 1936 to March 1937<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 139 Squadron RAF]] - September 1936 to July 1937<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 142 Squadron RAF]] - January 1937 to April 1938<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 185 Squadron RAF]] - March 1938 to July 1938<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 211 Squadron RAF]] - August 1937 to May 1939<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 218 Squadron RAF]] - March 1936 to March 1938<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 267 Squadron RAF]]
:*[[No. 500 Squadron RAF]] - February 1937 to March 1939<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 501 Squadron RAF]] - March 1938 to March 1939<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 502 Squadron RAF]] - April 1937 to April 1939<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 503 Squadron RAF]] - June 1938 to November 1938<ref name="thetaerop42"/>
:*[[No. 504 Squadron RAF]] - May 1937 to November 1938<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
:*[[No. 602 Squadron RAF]] - June 1936 to November 1938<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
:*[[No. 603 Squadron RAF]] - February 1938 to March 1939<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
:*[[No. 605 Squadron RAF]] - August 1936 to January 1939<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
:*[[No. 609 Squadron RAF]] - January 1938 to August 1939<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
:*[[No. 610 Squadron RAF]] - May 1938 to September 1939<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
:*[[No. 611 Squadron RAF]] - April 1938 to May 1939<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
:*[[No. 613 Squadron RAF]] - April 1939 to April 1940<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
:*[[No. 614 Squadron RAF]] - June 1937 to November 1939<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
:*[[No. 616 Squadron RAF]] - November 1938 to January 1939<ref name="thetaerop43"/>
{{Columns-end}}
;{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Yugoslavia}}
* [[Royal Yugoslav Air Force]]

==Surviving aircraft==
In 1937-39, 28 Hinds were sold to the Afghan government in two batches. After being retired in 1956, two airframes were donated to the United Kingdom in 1967-68. A further two airframes were donated to the [[Canada Aviation and Space Museum|National Aeronautical Collection]] in 1975 by the Afghan president.<ref name="RAFM" /><ref name="CASM" />
* c/n 41.H.8.1899 – Hind on static display at the [[Royal Air Force Museum London]] in [[London]].<ref name="RAFM">{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Andrew |title=INDIVIDUAL HISTORY [BAPC 82] |url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/69-A-104-Afghan-Hind.pdf |website=Royal Air Force Museum |access-date=24 November 2018 |date=2013}}</ref>
* c/n 41.H.8.1902 – Hind airworthy with the [[Shuttleworth Collection]] in [[Old Warden|Old Warden, Bedfordshire]]. It is painted as K5414.<ref>{{cite web |title=HAWKER HIND |url=http://www.shuttleworth.org/collection/hawkerhind |website=Shuttleworth |publisher=Shuttleworth |access-date=24 November 2018 |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516001914/https://www.shuttleworth.org/collection/hawkerhind/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="RAFM" />
* L7180 – Hind on static display at the [[Canada Aviation and Space Museum]] in [[Ottawa, Ontario]]. It was flown by the Afghan Air Force through the 1940s and used as an instructional airframe to train aircraft engineers during the 1950s.<ref name="CASM">{{cite web |title=HAWKER HIND |url=http://ingeniumcanada.org/aviation/collection-research/artifact-hawker-hind.php |website=Ingenium |access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref>
* L7181 – Hind under restoration at the [[Imperial War Museum Duxford]] in [[Duxford, Cambridgeshire]]. It was built in 1937 and served with [[No. 211 Squadron RAF]] until being sold to Afghanistan in 1939, and is undergoing long-term restoration by the Historic Aircraft Collection, having previously been in the Canada Aviation Museum collection.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hawker Hind, L7181 |url=http://www.historicaircraftcollection.ltd.uk/hind_rest.htm |website=Historic Aircraft Collection |access-date=24 November 2018 |archive-date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205012358/http://www.historicaircraftcollection.ltd.uk/hind_rest.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* K6717 – Hind on static display at the [[Museum of Transport and Technology]] in [[Western Springs (Auckland suburb)|Western Springs]], Auckland.<ref>{{cite web |title=AVIATION |url=http://www.motat.org.nz/collections/collection-themes/aviation |website=MOTAT |access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref>
* NZ1517 – Hind under restoration to airworthy at the Classic Aircraft Collection in [[Dairy Flat|Dairy Flat, Auckland]]. It was previously operated by the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]].<ref name="ADFS">{{cite web |last1=Prince |first1=Ivan |last2=Cowan |first2=Brendan |title=RNZAF Hawker Hind & Hind Trainer NZ1501 to NZ1563 + RAF Serials |url=http://www.adf-serials.com.au/nz-serials/nzhind.htm |website=ADF Serials |access-date=24 November 2018 |date=26 November 2013}}</ref>
* NZ1535 – Hind under restoration to airworthy at the Classic Aircraft Collection in Dairy Flat, Auckland. It was previously operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force.<ref name="ADFS" />

==Specifications (Hind)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=''The British Bomber since 1914''<ref name="mason bomber p261">Mason 1994, p. 261.</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew=two
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=29
|length in=3
|span m=
|span ft=37
|span in=3
|height m=
|height ft=10
|height in=7
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=348
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=3195
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=4657
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Rolls-Royce Kestrel]] V
|eng1 type=water-cooled [[V12 engine]]
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=640<!-- prop engines -->
|more power=

|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=185
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at {{convert|15500|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed mph=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed kts=
|stall speed mph=45
|stall speed note=<ref name ="ferry pilots notes">"Hawker Hind". ''Air Transport Auxiliary Ferry Pilots Notes (reproduction)''. Elvington, York, UK: Yorkshire Air Museum, 1996. {{ISBN|0-9512379-8-5}}.</ref>
|range km=
|range miles=460
|range nmi=
|range note=<ref name="thetp287">Thetford 1957, p. 287.</ref>
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=26400
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|time to altitude=8 min 6 s to {{convert|10000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns= 1 × synchronised forward-firing .303 in (7.7 mm) [[Vickers gun]] and 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) [[Lewis gun]] in rear cockpit
|bombs= Up to {{convert|510|lb|kg|abbr=on}} bombs under wings
|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent|
|related=
* [[Hawker Hart]]
* [[Hawker Audax]]
* [[Hawker Demon]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Fairey Fox]]
* [[Vickers Vildebeest]]
|sequence=
|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
* [[List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force]]
* [[List of bomber aircraft]]
|see also=
}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Crawford, Alex. ''Hawker Hart Family''. Redbourn, Hertfordshire, UK: Mushroom Model Publications Ltd., 2008. {{ISBN|83-89450-62-3}}.
* Mason, Francis K. ''The British Bomber Since 1914''. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1994. {{ISBN|0-85177-861-5}}.
* Mason, Francis K. ''Hawker Aircraft since 1920''. London: Putnam, Third revised edition 1991, first edition 1961. {{ISBN|0-85177-839-9}}.
*{{cite book |last1=Ognjevic |first1=Aleksandar |title=Hawker Hurricane, Fury & Hind: The Yugoslav Story: Operational Record 1931–1941 |date=2019 |publisher=LeadenSky Books |location=Belgrade |isbn=978-86-917625-3-7}}
*Spooner, Nigel (2024). ''A History of Aviation at Brooklands in 100 Objects''. Barnsley, England: Pen & Sword Airworld. {{ISBN|978-1-5267-9091-0}}
* Thetford, Owen. ''Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57''. London: Putnam, 1st edition, 1957.
* Thetford, Owen "By Day and By Night: Hawker Hart and Hind". ''[[Aeroplane Monthly]]'', August 1995, Vol. 23, No. 8. pp.&nbsp;34–43. {{ISSN|0143-7240}}.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/hind.html Hawker Hind]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090107195103/http://www.jaapteeuwen.com/ww2aircraft/html%20pages/hawker%20hind.htm Hawker Hind] – British Aircraft of world War II
* [http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/collections/artifacts/aircraft/HawkerHind.shtml The Hawker Hind in Canada]

{{Hawker Aircraft aircraft}}

[[Category:1930s British bomber aircraft]]
[[Category:Hawker aircraft|Hind]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1934]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]