Hawker Osprey
The Hawker Osprey was a carrier-based version of the Hawker Hart, which was used as a fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. There were also versions as a floatplane. Modded Hart machines served in 1930 as a prototype. The aircraft has been strengthened for the support and use the catapult launch, had beiklappbare wing and additional instruments.
Tendering of a fast reconnaissance aircraft
For the British Navy Air Force two-seat reconnaissance aircraft was a fast searching on the tender O 22/26, which could also serve as a fighter and could lead seater fighter aircraft. Four companies build prototypes to this call, the Rolls -Royce Kestrel V12 engine related than engine. Fairey competed with the Fleetwing, Blackburn Aircraft with the Nautilus and shorts with the Guinard, which was also modified as a floatplane and amphibian with central float. Winners of the production order 19/30, however, was Hawker Aircraft Ltd.. with the modified hard - prototype J9052. According to the 1927 modified designation system of the British forces were reconnaissance ( hunting ) aircraft of the Royal Navy names beginning with the letter "O".
Use in the British Fleet Air Force
The Osprey was powered by a Rolls- Royce Kestrel II engine and had a top speed of 270 km / h Their armament consisted of a rigid 7.7 mm Vickers machine gun forward and a movable 7.7 mm Lewis machine gun on the back seat, the first production aircraft of type Osprey were delivered to the Fleet Air Arm (FAA ) in 1932, which received a total of 129 machines. First, the Flight 409 was fitted in October 1932, from which the 802.Staffel arose. In April 1933, had the squadrons 802 and 800, along with nine single-seat Hawker Nimrod three Ospreys, who served as a reconnaissance and navigation equipment. The squadron 803 was a pure Osprey squadron with nine machines. 1934 came with No.801 or a mixed season which will then also a pure Osprey squadron was from autumn 1936. It was not until the end of 1938 the replacement of the equipment was carried out by Blackburn Skua monoplane. The last aircraft were in service until 1944 and served during World War II as a training aircraft for Navy pilots.
The FAA received four versions:
The float planes came on different ships to use, one of the first ships was the heavy cruiser HMS Sussex, then cruisers of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, but ultimately almost all ships in the fleet. In July 1936, the board aircraft were organized into ( Catapult ) Flights with 7ooer numbers, all possessed except the Flight 702 for the battleships of the Home Fleet on Hawker Ospreys. However, early on was the exchange Supermarine Walrus flying boats or the lighter Fairey Seafox. In the course of Abessinienkrise 1936 Flight flew 701 (on-board aircraft battleships ) with their Osprey Float machine monitoring flights from Malta. By June 1938, all Osprey - board equipment was replaced on the active ships of the Royal Navy.
Appearances in other nations
Only nine Orspreys were exported,