Some 1,000 of the new light bomber were planned but advancements in the competing DH.98 program curtailed the excitement surrounding the P.1005. Additionally, Hawker and the RAF remained wholly committed to Hawker's other aircraft production schedules. Despite this a pair of P.1005 prototypes were ordered and a full-size mock-up was under construction. It was soon revealed that the in-development Napier Sabre engines would not be ready for any aircraft any time soon - forcing the P.1005 to rely on Bristol Centaurus engines instead and this further limited the operational potential of the twin-engined platform.
With all this against it, the P.1005's production hopes were canceled in June of 1942 and thus ended work on the two prototypes (the mockup was only partially completed and reviewed in February of that year). While the P.1005 fell to the pages of aviation history, the DH.98 went on to have a stellar wartime and post-war career. Hawker, in the meantime, concentrated its efforts on fighter production and development - staying relevant until 1963 after which it was absorbed as part of Hawker Siddeley.
As designed, the P.1005 utilized a traditional twin-engine arrangement as aircraft of the period went. The cockpit was situated aft of a short nosecone and tapered to become the empennage. The empennage was made up of a single horizontal plane with rounded fins straddling the structure. The wing mainplanes were mounted along the forward sides of the fuselage and each held an engine installation. The engines drove four-bladed propeller units. The mainplanes were straight in their general design and had rounded wingtips. A tail-dragger undercarriage rounded out the list of features for the aircraft.
The heavy fighter form would have carried a battery of 6 x 20mm automatic cannons, presumably in the nose. Both the fighter and light bomber models were to feature the optional 4 x machine gun dorsal turret. The bomber form might have also included 2 x 0.30 caliber machine guns in the nose. The bomb load was near 4,000lb.
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