Hawker Hoopoe

H G Hawker Engineering's first essay into the realm of the single-seat shipboard fighter, the Hoopoe, was built as a private venture and was flown for the first time in 1928. Intended for operation with either wheels or floats, the Hoopoe was a two-bay staggered all-metal biplane powered by a 450hp Bristol Mercury II ninecylinder radial. Found to be seriously underpowered when first tested as a float fighter in 1929, the Hoopoe prototype was re-engined with a 520hp Mercury VI. Subsequently returned to the manufacturer after official handling trials at Felixstowe, the Hoopoe was fitted with a new single-bay wing cellule, a 400hp 14- cylinder two-row Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar V engine, and reverted to a wheel undercarriage for a further service assessment at Martlesham Heath. Various structural refinements were introduced and the Hoopoe was once again re-engined, this time with a 560hp Armstrong Siddeley Panther III. The prototype of the Nimrod fleet fighter had meanwhile commenced flight test, however, and thus interest in the Hoopoe had become no more than academic by mid-1930. The following data relate to the Hoopoe in its final form with Panther III engine.

3-View

A three-view drawing of Hawker Hoopoe II (1274 x 1146)