Hawker Hart Family

The Hawker Hart and its derivatives (Demon, Hind, Audax, Hector, Hardy, Osprey, Hartebeeste) comprised much of the operational equipment of the RAF, and many other air arms, in the 1930s. Bombers, fighters, trainers, army coop, these roles and many other tasks were carried out by these aircraft, perhaps the first true "multi-role combat aircraft". On its introduction, the Hart bomber was faster than the RAF's front-line fighters, and this elegant, reliable and highly adaptable aircraft remained in service well into the jet age, surviving in the Afghan air arm into the '50s. The Hart family went to war, in Finland, East Africa, Iraq (fighting on both sides!) and elsewhere, and Hectors even flew bombing sorties over Dunkirk in 1940.

This book, written by a highly respected historian and best-selling author, tells the story of these elegant aircraft in all their versions. Profusely illustrated with historical photos and close-up detail shots of the few surviving airframes, plus scale plans and drawings from the manuals, it chronicles the design, development and service of the Hart family in its many guises. From the vibrant colours of the pre-war RAF and FAA through to the drab camouflage of wartime operations, and the many overseas users from Afghanistan to Eire, the varied markings applied to these aircraft are fully illustrated in colour profiles.

This is the first in a new "Orange Maxi" series from MMP, with more pages than our usual books to cover aircraft types whose stories cannot be squeezed into our standard format!

This is essential reading for all those interested in military aviation and beautiful aircraft. It is an invaluable reference for aero-modellers and aviation historians.