MSFS 2024 Status:
Waiting for marketplace launch
Support the site - donate!

ah Nimrod

Aeroplane Heaven

AIRCRAFTPISTON

4.4/5 (7)

The Hawker Nimrod and Fury were designed by Sydney Camm who was later to design the Hawker Hurricane and many more famous fighting machines.

The entire airframe was light and strong, the fuselage being mostly a stressed-metal skin over a light tubular frame. The aft fuselage section, wings and tail surfaces were doped fabric over tubular frames.

This well-tried build technique remained a popular choice for Camm's designs including the famous Hawker Hurricane, to come.

The airframe was powered by a Rolls Royce Kestrel V12 engine first producing 480 hp but later upgraded to 608hp.The propeller was a fixed-pitch wooden Watts-type.

First flown in early 1931, the Hawker Fury, with the later 608hp Kestrel, was the first RAF interceptor capable of speeds in excess of 200 mph. It was also a nimble flyer and an excellent aerobat. With a climb rate of 2,400 ft per minute, the aeroplane was designed for a multiple of roles including the interception of bombers of the day.

Not to be outdone, the Royal Navy also wanted this new single-seat fighter for ship-borne duties. So the Fury design was modified to have a broader wingspan and navalised with the addition of arrestor hook, catapult equipment and a headrest for the pilot's comfort and safety during catapult launches.

Both types initially had straight, constant-chord wings, with the lower wing significantly cranked aft of the upper.

The Royal Navy's Nimrods were later given swept-back wings and designated Nimrod MkII.

For armament both aircraft were equipped with two forward-firing Vickers machine guns, firing through the propeller and could carry a small bomb-load beneath each wing.

The Hawker Fury first flew on the 25th March 1931 and entered service with the RAF in May of that year.

The Hawker Nimrod (Mk1) first flew (as a carrier-based aircraft) on 31st October 1931 and the first of the Mk2 Nimrods were delivered to the Royal Navy in March 1933.

Eventually outpaced and out-maneuvred by more "modern" machinery of the times, by 1939 the Nimrod and Fury had all but disappeared from front-line duties.

However, a monoplane version of the design was penned by Camm during the early 30's and when the first of the Merlin family of Rolls Royce engines started to appear, the design was further revised around the new engine, to become the prototype Hawker Hurricane.

The Fury is a single-engine, single-seat, multi-role military biplane developed and manufactured by British aviation company Hawker Aircraft. It took its maiden flight on March 25, 1931, and it entered service with the Royal Air Force in May of that year. The aircraft remained in service for nearly two decades, serving the militaries of several countries, including those of Yugoslavia, Spain, Norway, Portugal, and Iran. Over its lifetime, it performed the roles of interceptor, light attack, and reconnaissance. One restored model remains airworthy.

The Fury features all-metal construction, an open cockpit, and strut bracing between its upper and lower wings. It has a standard empennage and a fixed traditional undercarriage. During its military service, the aircraft was armed with two 7.7 mm Vickers Mk IV machine guns. Pilots knew the Fury as fast and nimble due to its powerful engine and sleek design.

The Fury measures 26 feet, 9 inches in length, stands 10 feet, 2 inches tall, and has a wingspan of 30 feet. It is powered by a 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce Kestrel IV piston engine that generates up to 640 horsepower and turns a 2-blade propeller.

The aircraft has a range of up to 300 miles and a service ceiling of 30,000 feet above sea level. It can climb at up to 2,500 feet per minute and has a top speed of 223 mph.

The Nimrod is a single-engine, single-seat, carrier-capable military biplane developed and manufactured by British aviation company Hawker Aircraft. It took its maiden flight on October 14, 1931, and entered service with the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy in 1932. The airplane primarily served the Royal Navy, with a few exported to Portugal and Denmark. Of 92 manufactured, two remain in flyable condition.

The Nimrod is constructed of wood, steel, aluminum, and fabric. It features an open cockpit, a fixed traditional undercarriage, a standard empennage, and strut-braced, staggered wings. During its operational tenure, it was armed with two forward-firing 7.7 mm machine guns and could carry up to four bombs. The Nimrod could perform several missions, including interception, air superiority, light bombing, and surface attack.

The Hawker Nimrod measures 26 feet, 6 inches in length, stands 9 feet, 10 inches tall, and has a wingspan of 33 feet, 7 inches. The Nimrod is powered by a 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce Kestrel VFP piston engine that delivers up to 525 horsepower and turns a 2-blade, fixed-pitch propeller. It has a range of 300 miles, a service ceiling of 28,000 feet above sea level, a climb rate of 2,000 feet per second, and a maximum speed of 195 miles per hour.

Specifications

WINGSPAN NIMROD33ft 6ins. (10.23m)
WINGSPAN FURY30ft.0ins. (9.14m)
WING AREA NIMROD300 sq.ft. (27.96 sq.m.)
LENGTH FURY26ft. 5ins. (8.09m)
LENGTH NIMROD26ft. 9ins. (8.15m)
ENGINERolls Royce Kestrel V12 developing 640hp
EMPTY WEIGHT FURY2,734lb (1,240kg)
EMPTY WEIGHT NIMROD3,110lb (1,411kg)
MAX TAKEOFF WEIGHT FURY3,609lb (1,637kg)
MAX TAKEOFF WEIGHT NIMROD4,050lb (1.837kg)
MAX SPEED FURY223mph (359 kmh)
MAX SPEED NIMROD194mph (312 kmh)
RANGE FURY270 miles (430km)
RANGE NIMROD305 miles (491km)
SERVICE CEILING FURY29,500ft. (9,000m)
SERVICE CEILING NIMROD28,000ft. (8,500m)