De Havilland Hyena
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1920s |
| Products | Aircraft |
Template:Lowercase Template:Infobox aircraft The de Havilland DH.56 Hyena was a British prototype designed in the 1920s for army cooperation roles. This single-engine biplane was created in response to an RAF specification but did not succeed commercially, with only two units produced as the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas was ultimately selected.
Development and design
The DH.56 Hyena originated from the Air Ministry Specification 30/24, which outlined the need for an Army Cooperation aircraft to serve in the Royal Air Force.[1] It evolved from de Havilland’s prior model, the DH.42B Dingo, sharing its configuration as a single-engine, two-bay biplane accommodating a crew of two. Armament included a fixed forward-firing Vickers machine gun and a rear-mounted Lewis gun operated by the observer. Additional features comprised a message pick-up hook beneath the fuselage and equipment for reconnaissance tasks such as photography, artillery spotting, supply delivery, and bombing missions.[2]
The prototype took to the skies on 17 May 1925,[1] initially powered by a 385 hp (287 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar III radial engine. This powerplant proved insufficient, leading to replacement with a more powerful 422 hp (315 kW) Jaguar IV before official trials commenced—these tests were conducted under Specification 20/25, which had superseded the original 30/24.[1] Both Hyena prototypes underwent evaluation against competing designs including the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas, Bristol Bloodhound, and Vickers Vespa, with some field assessments carried out by No. 4 Squadron RAF.[3] Pilots reported challenging handling characteristics near the ground and limited cockpit visibility. Consequently, the contract was awarded to the Atlas, and development of the Hyena ceased; however, it remained in use for experimental purposes at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough until 1928.[1]
Specifications (Jaguar IV)
See also
Notes
References
- Jackson, A.J. De Havilland Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam, Third edition 1987.
- Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber since 1914. London: Putnam, 1994.
External links
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