aircraft/loadouts Fairey Hendon

[Tigrillo 1,629]

Howdy ^^

I would like to suggest this very peculiar british aircraft, a perfect plane to counter the TB3s and B10s 

 

The Fairey Hendon

 

 

Development History

 

The Hendon is the first and only "heavy" bomber made by Fairey Aviation Company, and also the first RAF plane with a complete metal structure. The plane was designed in 1927, to meet a new night-bomber specification (B.19/27) issued by the RAF on the 17 august 1927: this required a range of 920 miles, with an average speed of 115mph and a load of 1500lb. Although the winner of the requirement was the Handley Page Heyford, an order for 14 Hendon was received by Fairey.

Designed and built at the Hayes factories, the hendon prototype featured a number of new innovation for the time: an internal stowage of the bomb load, designed to accomodate one of the new 1000lb bombs in the total possible load of 1660 lb; a catwalk between the tail and the nose gunner's positions, so that all crew members were free to move from one end to the other of the plane while in flight (to accomodate the catwalk the pilot cockpit was offset to port). If extra fuel tanks were carried instead of bombs, the plane had a range sufficient to fly to India in three nonstop stages.

The protoype first flown on november 1930, powered by two 525hp Bristol Jupiter XF nine-cylinders radial engines, and featuring an open tandem cockpit for the pilot and a radio operator. The cockpit was redesigned and closed for the production version of the plane.

 

The first prototype in flight in 1934, with the second cockpit faired over. The pilot is Lt. C. S. Staniland, fairey chief test pilot at the time.

Spoiler

 

After the Air ministry's order for 14 aicraft in 1934 the production started, with new 695hp fully supercharged Kestrel VI inline engines and various other improvements, like a rotating front turret.

Only 2 of all the Hendon ever produced were lost in accidents, the last one being worth of noting: on 1938 a dual control hendon was crashed on an un-authorized take off at night by two pilots in Marham: shortly after taking off the second pilot, presumably drunk, closed the throttle causing the plane to stall and crash on the ground. The two men were not hurt, but faced the court martial and a 1 year detention 

 

Armaments and technical datas

 

In addition of the 1660lb bomb load, the plane was defended by 3x 7.7 lewis guns.

 

Datas:

 

Span:                        31,01 m

Lenght:                     18,52 m

Height:                      5,72m

Wing area:                134 m²

Empty weight:           5793 kg

Loaded weight:         9072 kg

Max speed:               249 kmh at 4572 m

Cruising speed:         214 kmh at 4572 m

Initial RoC:                4,77 m/s

Time to 3000m:         15 minutes

Service ceiling:          6553 m

Range:                      2188 km

 

Some More Photos  (warning, large pictures)

Spoiler

The crew go aboard a Hendon at RAF Marham in 1938

 

Production Hendons flying in formation, operated by No. 38 Squadron

The first production Hendon, K5085, with a single canopy.

 

 

Conclusions

 

In my opinion this would be a nice addition to the t1 britain tree, at a 1.0 br ^^

As always, vote in the poll and don't forget to comment 

Cheers and Merry Christmas!

 

Tigrillo

 

 

 

Sources

 

Fairey Aircraft since 1915 by H. A. Taylor, Putnam Aeronautical Books, UK, 1988.

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Hendon

 

Edited December 26, 2017 by Tigrillo

[blakeob 8,086]

Open for discussion 

[Tigrillo 1,629]

[Grand_Moff_Tano 3,460]

Can't have enough Faireys in game

[Bobertman 15,027]

Totally support this magnificent work of art.

[Th3hadyn 5,881]

Would make for a perfect low tier bomber.

 

+1

[furiosinge 2,453]

+1!!!!

[Kempston 342]

I think this would be an important addition to the beginning of the British Bomber line. +1

[Milocat 4,848]

+1.  The Brits sorely need a low tier heavy bomber, and this is perfect.  Plus it has that wonderful interwar derp look to it.

[Dan_RAFBC 1,201]

Would be nice to see the British tech tree starting with an earlier bomber than the Blenheim or Hampden, also would be amazing to get some more pre-war British aircraft in game. Fully supported by me.

[AdamDizzy 62]

need this, would be a great BR 1.0 heavy plane for reserve planes to face.  

[leroyonly 4,310]

This suggestion has been passed to the developers for consideration .