Canadian Warplanes 1: Hawker Audax

Hawker Audax

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3232301)

Hawker Audax, RCAF (Serial No. K3100) RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario

Hawker Audax (6), (Serial No. A77), (Serial No. A78), (Serial No. A79), (Serial No. A80), (Serial No. A81), and (Serial No. K3100).  The Audax was exported to Canada with one aircraft being used by the RCAF for trials and five ex-RAF aircraft supplied after 1939 as instructional airframes.

Detailed records of all known RCAF and Canadian casualties in the RAF during the Second World War may be viewed on line in the Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource (CASPIR). The CASPIR website is researched, coded, maintained entirely by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) volunteers with only one staff assisting periodically. This work has taken several years, and is unlikely to be finished as continuing research leads to “new finds” and rediscovered Canadian aviation heritage and history. The CWHM volunteer team looks forward to continuing to update and correct the record as additional information and photos are received. Check here.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4731278)

Refuelling of Hawker Audax on skis, RCAF (Serial No. K3100) during winter trials at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 20 Mar 1935.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4731278)

Hawker Audax on skis, RCAF, 20 Mar 1935.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3521015)

Refuelling of Hawker Audax on skis, RCAF (Serial No. K3100) during winter trials at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 17 Mar 1935.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580835)

Hawker Audax on skis, RCAF (Serial No. K3100) during winter trials at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 17 Mar 1935. The aircraft is fitted with an R.A.E. heating bag with R.R. primus heater.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580837)

Hawker Audax on skis, RCAF (Serial No. K3100) having cannisters fitted under its wings during winter trials at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 17 Mar 1935.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3206352)

Hawker Audax, RCAF (Serial No. K3100) and Armstrong Whitworth Atlas AC aircraft at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 17 Mar 1935.

(RAF Photo)

Hawker Audax, RAF (Serial No. K2012), ca 1930s.

The Hawker Audax was a Hart variant, designed for army cooperation, seeing much service in the British Empire.  The first Audax flew in late 1931 and over 700 Audaxes were produced.  The Audax was similar to the Hart, though it had some modifications, including a hook to pick up messages.  The Audax was armed with a single .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis light machine gun and a .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun.  The Audax was powered by a version of the Kestrel engine and had a maximum speed of 170 mph (274 km/h).  A number of variants of the Audax were produced.  The Audax saw limited service during the Second World War, ending its service by 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 358089)

Hawker Audax, RAF, Rockcliffe, Ontario, ca 1935.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4731365)

Hawker Audax, RAF, Rockcliffe, Ontario, ca 1935. This aircraft was returned to the UK in 1936 and was last heard of as a GI Airframe with 1118 Sqn Air Training Corps (Air Cadets) in 1942.

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