Hawker Hind

During the 1930s the Royal Air Force began an expansion and modernisation programme, however, the RAF still needed aircraft in the interim period to replace the older aircraft while the next generation of aircraft were still being developed. Looking for an aircraft to replace the Hawker Hart as a light bomber, while thewhilst the Bristol Blenheim and Fairey Battle were in development, Specification G.7/34 was issued by the Air Ministry.

The design submitted by Hawker was based on the Hart and was known as the Hind. It featured improvements to the aircraft's field of fire and the tail skid replaced with a tailwheel, amongst other changes. The 12th September 1934 saw the Hind prototype make its maiden flight.

Only the Hind Mk I, which had a crew of two, would be produced, with the first production example flying on the 4th September 1935. Powered by the 640-hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V engine, it had a top speed of 186 mph, range of 430 miles with a service ceiling of 26,400 ft. Armament consisted of two 0.303-in machine-guns, one forward firing and one rear firing, and 500lb bombs The Hind Mk I would enter service three months later on the 3rd December 1935 when No. 21 Squadron was reformed at RAF Bircham Newton. This was followed by No. 34 Squadron, also based at RAF Bircham Newton who took delivery of their first four on the 8th January 1936.

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, some Hinds were used as glider tugs. By 1942 the aircraft had been removed from RAF service.

The 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.