The Hawker Sea Hawk first flew in 1947 and entered Royal Navy service in 1953, making it a new operational type during the Suez Crisis. Its stated performance included a maximum speed of about 600 miles per hour, a range of roughly 480 miles, and a ceiling of 44,500 feet. Four 20 mm Hispano cannon and six underwing hardpoints allowed it to carry rockets, bombs, or drop tanks. Jet speed arrived with a flexible strike load, although the single-seat aircraft still lacked the all-weather capability assigned to other types.
Notable Point · 9:59-11:38
The Sea Hawk made jet speed usable at sea
Sea Hawk performance, cannon, rockets, bombs, and drop tanks show what a new single-seat carrier jet could contribute at Suez.