Fairey Hendon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fairey Hendon |
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| Fairey Hendon in flight. | |
| Role | Night-Bomber |
| National origin | UK |
| Manufacturer | Fairey |
| First flight | 1930 |
| Introduction | 1936 |
| Status | Retired in 1939 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Produced | Out of production |
| Number built | 15 examples |
The Fairey Hendon was a special airplane built in the UK. It was the very first British bomber airplane made entirely out of metal. It was designed to fly at night and drop bombs. Only the RAF (the UK's air force) ever used this plane.
What Was the Fairey Hendon?
The Fairey Hendon was a type of aircraft called a bomber. Bombers are planes designed to carry and drop bombs on targets from the air. This particular plane was made by a company called Fairey Aviation. It first flew in 1930 and was officially used by the RAF starting in 1936.
It was quite important because it was the first time a British bomber was built using an all-metal design. Before this, many planes were made with wood and fabric. Using metal made planes stronger and more durable. The Hendon was specifically made for flying missions at night, which required special equipment and training for pilots.
Different Versions of the Hendon
Like many airplanes, the Fairey Hendon had a few different versions as it was being developed:
- Hendon Mk-I: This was the very first version, known as a prototype. A prototype is like a test model built to try out new ideas and designs. Only one Hendon Mk-I was ever built.
- Hendon Mk-II: This was the main version that was actually produced and used. It's called a series variant because it was built in larger numbers after the prototype was tested and improved. There were 14 Hendon Mk-II planes made.
The Fairey Hendon was retired from service in 1939, just as World War II was beginning. Even though it didn't see much action in the war, it was an important step in making stronger, all-metal aircraft for the future.
Images for kids
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The prototype K1695 with two Rolls-Royce Kestrel 600 HP engines.
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A Fairey Hendon of no. 38 Squadron
