Hawker Sea Hawk FB.3 WM913 NAHR – National Benchmark
Wonderful to see in a corner of Hangar One are the interesting markings on Sea Hawk WM913, one of just 116 built by Armstrong Whitworth, and which arrived at the museum over forty years ago. WM913 carries the markings of 897 NAS, as worn when it served on HMS Eagle from April 1956 to January 1957. By Jan McGeachie
As a British single-seat jet day fighter, the Hawker Sea Hawk was built by Hawker Aircraft and Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. The type was the company's first jet aircraft, many were produced to be operated from British, Dutch and Indian aircraft carriers – the last retired in 1983.
After the prototype first flew on 1st September 1944, thanks to Sydney Camm, Hawker’s chief designer, later modifications stretched the fuselage, moved the cockpit further forward and saw thinner straight tapered wings (minus fuel tanks) were adopted. Another first for a Hawker-built aircraft, was a nose wheel tricycle undercarriage.
VP401 the P1040 prototype first flew on 2nd September 1947, piloted by Bill Humble from RAF Boscombe Down. Three days later, it flew to Farnborough to be revealed to the public. Later prototypes VP413, equipped with folding wings, took part in trials aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. Its wing span later increased by 30 inches, and it returned in 1949 for further deck landings without problems.
On 17th October 1949, the third prototype, VP422, made its maiden flight. On 22nd November 1949, it faced the challenging possibility of operating without an undercarriage, landing on a flexible deck. These various trials resulted in 151 Sea Hawks being ordered.
In August 1949 VP401 beat both the de Havilland Vampire and de Havilland DH108 in the SBAC Challenge Cup Race. In so doing it became, for a time the first British rocket-powered aircraft, until the rocket engine blew up during a test, resulting in the airframe later being scrapped.
The Sea Hawk had a crew of one; length 39 feet 8 inches; wingspan of 39 feet; a maximum speed of 600 mph; with range of 480 miles; and could climb to a height of 44,500 feet. Most Sea Hawks were powered by single Rolls-Royce Nene series engines.
Sea Hawk production was given priority by Winston Churchill in 1951 when some production was transferred to Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft in Coventry. From there on 14th November 1951, WF143 conducted its maiden flight, this was the first of 60 to be produced. When the first FB.4 aircraft, WV792 conducted its first flight on 26th August 1954 the Nene 101 engine had been replaced by the more powerful Nene 103. This improved the aircraft's low-speed and take-off performance.
Sea Hawks were used during the Suez Crisis flying from HMS Eagle, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark their last Royal Naval combat operation before being replaced by Supermarine Scimitar and de Havilland Sea Vixen in 1958. The last front line Sea Hawk squadron, 806 NAS, disbanded on 15th December 1960, ending a very brief operational career for the type. In the museum archive there are pictures of WM913 embarked on a carrier en-route to Egypt.
WM913 was built in 1954 began service on 9th July 1954 with 806 NAS at RNAS Yeovilton, spending time at Hal Far, Malta, RNAS Lee-on-Solent and RNAY Fleetlands going onto serve with 895 squadron before Suez in 1956. WM913 underwent conversion to FB.5 standards at RNAY Fleetlands, which was completed by August 1957. Upon release from Fleetlands WM913 joined 700 NAS at RNAS Yeovilton and later transferred to 736 NAS, at RNAS Lossiemouth.
WM913 joined the School of Aircraft Handling (SAH) at RNAS Culdrose in June 1961. Here it was allocated the maintenance serial A2510, and was used to teach naval personnel how to manoeuvre aircraft on carrier flight decks. It was then allocated for gate guard duties at RAF Sealand in 1971. It was then loaned to the Fleetwood Sea Cadets, from 1976 to 1984, who in turn arranged for it to be loaned it to the museum in July 1984.
Photo credit: Jan McGeachie