The Hoopoe began as a private-venture naval fighter with two-bay wings and a radial engine. Fitting floats exposed inadequate power and prompted an engine change. Further development brought single-bay wings, another engine and revised cooling arrangements, although an initial cooling improvement produced no extra performance. In its final Panther-powered form it reached 196.5 miles per hour. By then the inline-engined Nimrod had demonstrated a superior route and service interest had faded. The sole Hoopoe continued experimental flying before it was scrapped in 1932.
Notable Point · 1:47:15-1:50:46
The Hoopoe's repeated redesigns pursue naval-fighter performance
Float trials, engine changes and revised wings improved the Hoopoe, but the Nimrod overtook it before it won a service order.