HAWKER TORNADO
- The Hawker Tornado was a single-seat fighter developed under Sydney
Camm's direction in response to Specification F.I8/37. Variants developed
in parallel with R-R Vulture and Napier Sabre engine, latter named Typhoon
and described separately. Hawker Tornado LA and IB designations were to
apply to Vulture-engined production versions with wing-mounted armament
of ('A') 12 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns or ('B') four 20 mm
Hispano cannon respectively. Four F.I8/37 prototypes ordered early 1938
(of which two to be Typhoons). First Hawker Tornado (P5219) flown October
6, 1939, with 'A' wing (guns not fitted) and 1,760 hp Vulture II served
by ventral radiator, the latter soon replaced by chin radiator, as first
flown December 6, 1939. Second prototype (P5224) first flown December
5, 1940, with 'B' wing (no guns fitted). In March 1941, 1,980 hp Vulture
Vs fitted in both prototypes, and on October 23, 1941, a further prototype
(HG641) flown, with 2,210 hp Bristol Centaurus C.E.4S radial engine. Production
of 896 Hawker Tornados by Avro planned, but abandoned after completion
of one aircraft (R7936, flown at Woodford on August 29, 1941), when production
of unsatisfactory Vulture terminated. All four Hawker Tornados continued
flying into 1943 on various testing, including contraprops. Data for Vulture
V-engined version. Max speed, 398 mph (640.5 kmlh) at 23,000 ft (7,010
m). Time to 2,000 ft (610 m), 7.2 min. Service ceiling, 34,900ft (10,638
m). Empty weight, 8,377 Ib (3,800 kg). Gross weight, 10,668 Ib (4,839
kg). Span, 41 ft 11 in (12.77 m). Length, 32 ft 10 in (10.00 m). Wing
area, 283 sqft (26.29 m2).
