The Hendy 281 Hobo was a British single-seat light monoplane designed by Basil B. Henderson and built by the Hendy Aircraft Company at Shoreham Airport in 1929. Only one aircraft was built, registered G-AAIG, and first flown in October 1929 by Edgar Percival.

It was a small low-wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailskid landing gear and powered by a 35 hp ABC Motors Scorpion II engine. It was rebuilt in 1934 with a 90 hp Pobjoy Cataract, mass balance ailerons and a modified landing gear.

Operational life[edit]

Under the ownership of Lord Patrick Stuart^[1] it was entered in many races in the 1930s and in 1934 won a race between Hatfield and Cardiff at 125.4 miles per hour (201.8 km/h). In the summer months of 1935 the Hendy Hobo was operated out of Hall Caine Airport, Isle of Man.^[1] Under the control of Flight lieutenant R. Duncanson,^[1] a former Chief Flying Instructor at the London Air Park^[1] and who had recently set up a flying school at Hall Caine.^[1] The Hendy Hobo captivated visitors and locals alike by performing a series of aerobatics over Ramsey Bay.^[1]

Loss[edit]

On 30 August 1940 it was destroyed by German bombing at Lympne Aerodrome.

Specifications (Hobo)[edit]

Data from A.J. Jackson, British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3, 1974, Putnam, London, ISBN 0-370-10014-X, Page 252

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
• Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
• Gross weight: 650 lb (295 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pobjoy Cataract , 90 hp (67 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn)

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

• A.J. Jackson, British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3, 1974, Putnam, London, ISBN 0-370-10014-X, Page 252