The Hawker Hardy was a general purpose variant of the Hawker Hart, a two-seat, light bomber biplane developed in the 1920s against Specification G.23/33. It was intended to provide a hot weather replacement for the Westland Wapiti aircraft being used for Army cooperation and policing duties in Iraq.

The development prototype was a standard production Hawker Hart (K3013) which had been withdrawn from service and returned to Hawker Aircraft Ltd for modification. The modifications included a large tropical radiator, message hook, under-wing racks for light bombs and underwing panniers as supply / water containers.


After successful trials of the prototype, which was first flown on 7th September 1934, the first production aircraft was delivered in January 1935.

The production of 47 aircraft was completed by the Gloster Aircraft Co Ltd at Hucclecote, with the first being K4050. Most production aircraft were fitted with large low-pressure tyres for operation on rough ground.

The Hardy entered service with 30 Sqn at Mosul, Iraq although these were later replaced by Blenheims in 1938, the remaining Hardy aircraft then being transferred to 6 Sqn, based in Palestine.

When the Second World War broke out, the surviving Hardys were transferred to 237 (Rhodesia) Sqn, who operated a mixed fleet of Hardys and Audaxes, operational against Italian forces in Somaliland and Eritrea during 1940.

With their final sortie being flown on 9th May 1941, the Hardy was withdrawn from RAF service a month or so later.

The Belgian Colonial Authorites obtained a Hawker Hardy on 14th May 1941 (from the South African Air Force) and, after a repaint into Belgian colours, it was to be used to carry out observation missions. Unfortunately, it overturned whilst landing at Gambela Airfield on 26th May 1941 and was subsequently written off.
Below No. 6 Squadron RAF Hawker Hardy aircraft at RAF Ramleh , Palestine.







Specification
Powerplant One 530 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel IB (later aircraft 581 hp Kestrel X) engine
Span 37 ft 3 in
Maximum Weight 5,005 lb
Capacity and armament Pilot and gunner. One fixed forward-firing Vickers gun on port side, plus one Lewis gun mounted on rear cockpit. Message hook and underwing racks for four 20 lb bombs, and attachments for supply / water containers.
Maximum Speed 161 mph at sea level
Endurance / Range 3 hours