The Royal Aircraft Arsenal Seahawk I is an all wood monoplane fighter aircraft designed by Thomas J. Quatch. The use of wood makes it possible to employ lots of unskilled labor in the manufacture of the airframe. The Seahawk I is powered by a 1990 hp HARCO HAE-21c radial engine. The skin of the aircraft is of plywood with a thick lacquer coating. The armament is two Cromett Industries 20-mm Cr-1 cannon and two Racozy MG-2 12.7mm machine guns.
Flight tests started in April of 2036 with both aluminium and wooden prototypes, and after exhaustive flight trials, the wooden version was chosen, as the fledgling aluminum industry could not meet the demand for the metal needed for the projected production run. The use of wood rather than metal had raised the normal loaded weight to 8958 pounds, an increase of some 600 pounds, and this had a slightly adverse effect on climb rate and maneuverability over an all aluminum prototype. An altitude of 26,240 feet could be attained in 13 minutes 5 seconds, this being nearly a minute and a half greater than that for the metal Seahawk. However, because of the aircraft's exceptionally fine finish, the maximum speed of 384 mph at 24,000 feet compared closely to that of the metal aircraft.
The first regular production aircraft rolled of the assembly lines of the Royal Aircraft Arsenal in Portland, Northern Oregon in January of 2038. The first production aircraft were issued to the Guards RAF Squadron later that month.
Despite the introduction of other propellar and jet fighters, the Seahawk I remains the backbone of the RAF's fighter force due to its low cost, ease of maitenance and swuperb performance.
Function: fighter
Engine: One HARCO HAE-21c eighteen-cylinder air-cooled radial rated at 1,990 hp for takeoff and 1,850 hp at 5,740 feet. Performance: Maximum speed 385 mph at 21,080 feet. Cruising speed 310 mph at 20,100 feet. An altitude of 16,405 feet could be reached in 5 minutes. Service ceiling 36,090 feet. Normal range 497 miles plus 1.5 hours of combat.
Empty Weight: 6,499 pounds
Loaded Weight: 8,598 pounds
Dimensions: Wingspan 36 feet 10 7/16 inches,
Length: 32 feet 7 3/4 inches,
Height: 11 feet 9 5/16inches
Wing area: 226.04 square feet.
Armament: Two fuselage-mounted 12.7mm machine guns and two wing-mounted 20mm cannon. External stores included two 250 kg. bombs or two 200 l. drop tanks.
Designed in parallel with the Seahawk I, Royal Aircraft Arsenal Seahawk IN is an all wood monoplane fighter carrier aircraft. Differences from the land version include arrestor hook and folding wings.
The folding wings add an additional 300 pounds to the weight of the aircraft, making the performance a bit inferior to the land version.
Service life of the IN version is about 75% of the land version as the wetness of the marine environment has a deleterious effect on the wooden structure.
Function: fighter
Engine: One HARCO HAE-21c eighteen-cylinder air-cooled radial rated at 1,990 hp for takeoff and 1,850 hp at 5,740 feet. Performance: Maximum speed 381 mph at 21,080 feet. Cruising speed 310 mph at 20,100 feet. An altitude of 15,921 feet could be reached in 5 minutes. Service ceiling 36,000 feet. Normal range 497 miles plus 1.5 hours of combat.
Empty Weight: 6,799 pounds
Loaded Weight: 8,898 pounds
Dimensions: Wingspan 36 feet 10 7/16 inches,
Length: 32 feet 7 3/4 inches,
Height: 11 feet 9 5/16inches
Wing area: 226.04 square feet.
Armament: Two fuselage-mounted 12.7mm machine guns and two wing-mounted 20mm cannon. External stores included two 250 kg. bombs or two 200 l. drop tanks.
The Royal Aircraft Arsenal Seahawk II is direct development of the Seahawk I intended for use as a fighter-bomber. The aircraft, modified by Thomas Quatch, is similar to the Mk. I with a considerably smaller fuel capacity, additional hard points, and a reduction of the gun armament to four Racozy MG-2 12.7mm machine guns. Most Seahawk Mk. IIs are in the service of Commonwealth air forces.
Function: fighter-bomber
Engine: One HARCO HAE-21c eighteen-cylinder air-cooled radial rated at 1,990 hp for takeoff and 1,850 hp at 5,740 feet. Performance: Maximum speed 385 mph at 21,080 feet. Cruising speed 310 mph at 20,100 feet. An altitude of 16,405 feet could be reached in 5 minutes. Service ceiling 36,090 feet. Normal range 277 miles plus 1.5 hours of combat.
Empty Weight: 6,195 pounds
Loaded Weight: 8,645 pounds
Dimensions: Wingspan 36 feet 10 7/16 inches,
Length: 32 feet 7 3/4 inches,
Height: 11 feet 9 5/16inches
Wing area: 226.04 square feet.
Armament: Two fuselage-mounted 12.7mm machine guns and two wing-mounted 12.7mm machine guns. External stores included two 200l. drop tanks, one, two or three 250kg. bombs, two 500kg. bombs, or one 1,000kg bomb.
