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By: - 19th October 2018 at 10:49 Permalink
Tropicalised versions generally had improved engine cooling systems, dust filters and survival equipment. Most types that served in more extreme environments had such mods.
By: - 20th October 2018 at 09:50 Permalink
Hi WebPilot,
Thanks.
However, if the Singapore Audaxes and Harts got the same conversions as, say, the Indian or Southern Rhodesian Audaxes, then one has to wonder why they got a specific sub-type designation.
It seems possible that there was something specific to the Audax (Singapore) that distinguished it from the others.
Many thanks,
Sid.
By: - 20th October 2018 at 21:37 Permalink
Perhaps there were changes to the carburetors and other changes to the engine due to the excessive humidity of Singapore?
John
By: - 21st October 2018 at 16:43 Permalink
As is usual on this forum, a definitive answer on virtually subject. Well done!
By: - 22nd October 2018 at 11:58 Permalink
There are a couple of poor quality photos on Flight Global Archive which show SSVAF Audaxes. Have a look at this page and the page before.
https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1939/1939%20-%200540.html
According to Putnam's Hawker Aircraft since 1920, the Osprey moved over to stainless steel construction late in 1932. It is however a little hazy on details. Where's a copy of a post 1932 AP1431 when you need one?
Anne
By: - 23rd October 2018 at 14:05 Permalink - Edited 23rd October 2018 at 14:07
I had a play with the photo put up by Anne and the serial by the way is K3720.
I would suggest that the compression ratio of the lower rated engines suited the denser humid air conditions of the Far East. The extra perforated top cowls found on some Hawker types in the Indian theatre are more often found on aircraft originally destined for the drier near east. The stainless steel Osprey wings are also different in many ways from the pure Hart / Audax machines and as the erks knew them "An Awdax is a Art wiv an ook".
Unfortunately there are a number of errors in the other wise excellent Mason book such the Hartebees having only one front gun when they had two and despite being treated as distinctly different type, both it and the Australian Demon were both Demons with slightly varying Army co-op fit.
John
Posts: 2
By: Sid Guttridge - 19th October 2018 at 08:51
I have noticed from The K File by J. J. Halley that Hawker Audaxes and Hawker Harts sent to Singapore in the second half of the 1930s were given some modifications that earned the addition of (Singapore) to their official designation.
Does anyone know what modifications were made to the aircraft and why?
Was it, perhaps, related to the humidity of the tropics?
Were any other types similarly converted?
Many thanks,
Sid.