Developed as an interim light bomber for the RAF, whilst it awaited modern aircraft, during its period of expansion the Hind would end its time as a training aircraft, whilst a number would be
exported to serve with air forces world wide.
During the 1930s the Royal Air Force began an expansion and modernisation programme, however an issue arose in needing aircraft to serve in the interim period to replace the older aircraft whilst the
next generation of aircraft were still being developed. It was for this reason that the Hind was conceived.
The Air Ministry were looking for a type to serve as a light bomber to replace another Hawker aircraft, the Hart,
whilst the Bristol Blenheim and Fairey Battle were still in development and so issued
Specification G.7/34. The design submitted by Hawker was in fact based on the Hart.
Known as the Hind it would be powered by the Rolls-Royce Kestrel V engine which allowed a top speed of 185 mph and featured improvements to the aircraft's
field of fire and the tail skid replaced with a tailwheel, amongst other improvements. The prototype of Hawker's new aircraft made its maiden flight on the 12th September 1934.
There was only one version of the Hind produced and this was the Mk I which had a crew of two. Usually powered by the Kestrel V engine it had a range of 430 miles and a service ceiling of 26,400 ft.
Armament consisted of one 0.303-in machine-gun firing forwards and a 0.303-in Lewis gun in the rear and was able to carry 500lb bombs. The first production Hind flew on the 4th September 1935,
entering service three months later on the 3rd December when No. 21 Squadron and No. 34 Squadron were reformed at RAF Bircham Newton. A number of Hinds would serve in the Royal Auxiliary Air
Force as well.
By 1937 the Hind's time with the Royal Air Force was coming to an end as the Battle and Blenheim started to enter service, so the type became a bomber trainer. To operate in this new role the
aircraft would be modified in a number of ways including the removal of armament, dual controls installed and blind flying hoods added.
The Hawker Hind would also be exported abroad to a number of counties including Afghanistan and Portugal. With the engine used depending on where the aircraft was sold. By the time production
ended 582 examples had been built.
