Hawker “Afghan” Hind (export variant)

Fighter-bomber By: Hawker Origin: United Kingdom First Flight: 1934

About This Aircraft

The Hawker Hind was a British light bomber and biplane of the inter-war years, derived from the successful Hawker Hart. This example is a rare "Afghan" Hind, a specialised export variant tailored for the Royal Afghan Air Force in the late 1930s. Key modifications for operation in Afghanistan's demanding high-altitude, hot environment included a more powerful Bristol Mercury radial engine, replacing the standard Rolls-Royce Kestrel V-12. This provided better performance in the thinner air of the mountainous terrain. The aircraft maintained the classic, elegant lines of Hawker biplanes, with a fabric-covered tubular steel structure. This Hind was recovered from Afghanistan in the 1970s and restored, representing a unique chapter in the history of British military exports.

Museums Featuring This Aircraft

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