Hawker Aircraft
Encyclopedia
Hawker Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer responsible for some of the most famous products in British aviation history.
. Sopwith test pilot Harry Hawker
and three others, including Thomas Sopwith
, bought the assets of Sopwith and formed H.G. Hawker Engineering in 1920.
In 1933 the company was renamed Hawker Aircraft Limited and took advantage of the Great Depression
and a strong financial position to purchase the Gloster Aircraft Company
in 1934. The next year it merged with the engine
and automotive company Armstrong Siddeley
and its subsidiary, Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft
, to form Hawker Siddeley Aircraft. This group also encompassed A. V. Roe and Company
; Avro.
Hawker Aircraft continued to produce designs under its own name as a part of the Hawker Siddeley Aircraft, from 1955 division of Hawker Siddeley Group. The "Hawker" brand name was dropped, along with those of the sister companies, in 1963. The Hawker P.1127
was the last aircraft branded as "Hawker".
The Hawker legacy was maintained by the American company Raytheon
who produced business jet
s (including some derived from the BAe 125
, whose original design dated back to de Havilland days) under the "Hawker" name. This was the result of purchasing British Aerospace
's product line in 1993. The name is currently used by Hawker Beechcraft
after Raytheon's business jet interests (Hawker and Beechcraft
) were acquired by investors and merged together.
In the interwar years
, Hawker produced a successful line of bombers and fighters for the Royal Air Force
, the product of Sydney Camm (later Sir Sydney) and his team. These included the Hawker Hind
and the Hawker Hart
, which became the most produced UK aeroplane in the years before the Second World War.
During the Second World War, the Hawker Siddeley company was one of the United Kingdom's most important aviation concerns, producing numerous designs including the famous Hawker Hurricane
fighter plane that, along with the Supermarine Spitfire
, was instrumental in winning the Battle of Britain
. (During the battle, Hawker Hurricanes in service outnumbered all other British fighters combined, and were responsible for shooting down 55 percent of all enemy aircraft destroyed.)
History
Hawker had its roots in the aftermath of the First World War which resulted in the bankruptcy of the Sopwith Aviation CompanySopwith Aviation Company
The Sopwith Aviation Company was a British aircraft company that designed and manufactured aeroplanes mainly for the British Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Flying Corps and later Royal Air Force in the First World War, most famously the Sopwith Camel...
. Sopwith test pilot Harry Hawker
Harry Hawker
Harry George Hawker MBE, AFC, was an Australian aviation pioneer and co-founder of Hawker Aircraft, the firm that would later be responsible for a long series of successful military aircraft.-Early life:...
and three others, including Thomas Sopwith
Thomas Sopwith
Sir Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith, CBE, Hon FRAeS was an English aviation pioneer and yachtsman.-Early life:...
, bought the assets of Sopwith and formed H.G. Hawker Engineering in 1920.
In 1933 the company was renamed Hawker Aircraft Limited and took advantage of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and a strong financial position to purchase the Gloster Aircraft Company
Gloster Aircraft Company
The Gloster Aircraft Company, Limited, known locally as GAC, was a British aircraft manufacturer. The company produced a famous lineage of fighters for the Royal Air Force : the Grebe, Gladiator, Meteor and Javelin. It also produced the Hawker Hurricane and Hawker Typhoon for the parent company...
in 1934. The next year it merged with the engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
and automotive company Armstrong Siddeley
Armstrong Siddeley
Armstrong Siddeley was a British engineering group that operated during the first half of the 20th century. It was formed in 1919 and is best known for the production of luxury motor cars and aircraft engines.-Siddeley Autocars:...
and its subsidiary, Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft
Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft
Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company, or Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, was a British aircraft manufacturer.-History:Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft was established as the Aerial Department of the Sir W. G Armstrong Whitworth & Company engineering group in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1912, and...
, to form Hawker Siddeley Aircraft. This group also encompassed A. V. Roe and Company
Avro
Avro was a British aircraft manufacturer, with numerous landmark designs such as the Avro 504 trainer in the First World War, the Avro Lancaster, one of the pre-eminent bombers of the Second World War, and the delta wing Avro Vulcan, a stalwart of the Cold War.-Early history:One of the world's...
; Avro.
Hawker Aircraft continued to produce designs under its own name as a part of the Hawker Siddeley Aircraft, from 1955 division of Hawker Siddeley Group. The "Hawker" brand name was dropped, along with those of the sister companies, in 1963. The Hawker P.1127
Hawker P.1127
The Hawker P.1127 and the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1 were the experimental and development aircraft that led to the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first vertical and/or short take-off and landing jet fighter-bomber...
was the last aircraft branded as "Hawker".
The Hawker legacy was maintained by the American company Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
who produced business jet
Business jet
Business jet, private jet or, colloquially, bizjet is a term describing a jet aircraft, usually of smaller size, designed for transporting groups of up to 19 business people or wealthy individuals...
s (including some derived from the BAe 125
British Aerospace BAe 125
The British Aerospace 125 is a twin-engined mid-size corporate jet, with newer variants now marketed as the Hawker 800. It was known as the Hawker Siddeley HS.125 until 1977...
, whose original design dated back to de Havilland days) under the "Hawker" name. This was the result of purchasing British Aerospace
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
's product line in 1993. The name is currently used by Hawker Beechcraft
Hawker Beechcraft
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is an aerospace manufacturing company that builds the Beechcraft and Hawker business jet lines of aircraft....
after Raytheon's business jet interests (Hawker and Beechcraft
Beechcraft
Beechcraft is an American manufacturer of general aviation and military aircraft, ranging from light single engine aircraft to business jets and light military transports. Previously a division of Raytheon, it has been a brand of Hawker Beechcraft since 2006....
) were acquired by investors and merged together.
Products
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
, Hawker produced a successful line of bombers and fighters for the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, the product of Sydney Camm (later Sir Sydney) and his team. These included the Hawker Hind
Hawker Hind
-See also:-Bibliography:* Crawford, Alex. Hawker Hart Family. Redbourn, Hertfordshire, UK: Mushroom Model Publications Ltd., 2008. ISBN 83-89450-62-3....
and the Hawker Hart
Hawker Hart
The Hawker Hart was a British two-seater biplane light bomber of the Royal Air Force , which had a prominent role during the RAF's inter-war period. The Hart was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and built by Hawker Aircraft...
, which became the most produced UK aeroplane in the years before the Second World War.
During the Second World War, the Hawker Siddeley company was one of the United Kingdom's most important aviation concerns, producing numerous designs including the famous Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
fighter plane that, along with the Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
, was instrumental in winning the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. (During the battle, Hawker Hurricanes in service outnumbered all other British fighters combined, and were responsible for shooting down 55 percent of all enemy aircraft destroyed.)
List
- Hawker DuikerHawker Duiker-See also:-References:* Mason, Francis K, Hawker Aircraft since 1920. London:Putnam, Third edition 1991. ISBN 0 85177 839 9.-External links:*...
1923 prototype First original design by Hawker, 1 aircraft built, J6918 - Hawker WoodcockHawker Woodcock-See also:-Bibliography:* Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919, Volume 1, 2nd Edition. London: Putnam, 1973. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.* Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7.* Mason, Francis K. Hawker Aircraft...
1923 - Hawker CygnetHawker Cygnet-See also:-Bibliography:*Mason, Francis K. Hawker Aircraft since 1920. London:Putnam, 1991.ISBN 0 85177 839 9.-External links:*...
1924 - Hawker HedgehogHawker Hedgehog-References:* Mason, Francis K. Hawker Aircraft since 1920 London:Putnam, 1991. ISBN 0 85177 839 9....
1924 prototype - Hawker HorsleyHawker Horsley|-See also:-Bibliography:* Jarrett, Philip. "By Day and By Night: Hawker Horsley part 1". Aeroplane Monthly, Volume 21 No 10, Issue 246, October 1993. pp. 32–40....
1925 - Hawker HeronHawker Heron-See also:-References:* Mason, Francis K Hawker Aircraft since 1920 London:Putnam, 1991. ISBN 0 85177 839 9.* Meekcoms, K J and Morgan, E B. The British Aircraft Specification File. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain, 1994ISBN 0 85130 220 3...
1925 - Hawker HornbillHawker Hornbill-References:*Hawker Aircraft since 1920 by Francis K Mason - pub Putnam 1961...
1925 - Hawker DanecockHawker Danecock-See also:...
1925 - Hawker Harrier 1927 prototype
- Hawker Hawfinch 1927
- Hawker HartHawker HartThe Hawker Hart was a British two-seater biplane light bomber of the Royal Air Force , which had a prominent role during the RAF's inter-war period. The Hart was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and built by Hawker Aircraft...
1928- Operators of Hawker Hart and variants
- Hawker F.20/27Hawker F.20/27|-See also:...
1928 prototype - Hawker HoopoeHawker Hoopoe-See also:-Bibliography:* Mason, Francis K. Hawker Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam, 1991. ISBN 0-85177-839-9-External links:*...
1928 - Hawker TomtitHawker Tomtit-Bibliography:*Jackson, J.J. British Civil Aircraft 1919-72: Volume II. London: Putnam and Company, 1973. ISBN 0-85177-813-5* Mason, Francis K. Hawker Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam & Company, 3rd revised edition 1991. ISBN 0-85177-839-9....
1928 - Hawker Hornet 1929
- Hawker Osprey 1929
- Hawker NimrodHawker NimrodThe Hawker Nimrod was a British carrier-based single engine, single seat biplane fighter aircraft built in the early 1930s by Hawker Aircraft.-Design and development:...
1930 - Hawker FuryHawker FuryThe Hawker Fury was a British biplane fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force in the 1930s. It was originally named the Hornet and was the counterpart to the Hawker Hart light bomber.-Design and development:...
1931- Hawker Fury variants
- Hawker Audax 1931
- Hawker Dantorp1932
- Hawker Demon 1933
- Hawker P.V.3Hawker P.V.3-References:NotesBibliography* Bowyer, Michael J.F. Interceptor Fighters for the Royal Air Force 1935–45. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stephens Limited, 1984. ISBN 0-85059-726-9.* Goulding, James. Interceptor. London: Ian Allan, 1986. ISBN 0 7110 1583 X....
1934 prototype - Hawker Hardy 1934
- Hawker HindHawker Hind-See also:-Bibliography:* Crawford, Alex. Hawker Hart Family. Redbourn, Hertfordshire, UK: Mushroom Model Publications Ltd., 2008. ISBN 83-89450-62-3....
1934- Hawker Hind variants
- Hawker P.V.4Hawker P.V.4-See also:-Bibliography:* Hannah, Donald. Hawker FlyPast Reference Library. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-946219-01-X....
1934 prototype - Hawker Hartbees 1935
- Hawker HurricaneHawker HurricaneThe Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
1935- Hawker Hurricane variantsHawker Hurricane variantsThe Hawker Hurricane was a British single-seat fighter aircraft designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. Some versions were built in Canada by the Canada Car and Foundry Co Ltd-Hurricane Mk I:Hurricane Mk I ...
- Hawker Hurricane PZ865Hawker Hurricane PZ865Hawker Hurricane PZ865 is a single-engined Second World War fighter operated by the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. It was the last of 14,533 Hurricanes produced and is now flown as an airborne memorial.-History:...
- List of Hawker Hurricane operators
- Hawker Hurricane variants
- Hawker HectorHawker Hector-See also:-Bibliography:* Air Transport Auxiliary Ferry Pilots Notes . Elvington, York, UK: Yorkshire Air Museum, 1996. ISBN 0-9512379-8-5....
1936 - Hawker HenleyHawker Henley-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Cooper, H.J.,O.G. Thetford and C.B. Maycock. Aircraft of the Fighting Powers - Volume II. Leicester, UK: Harborough Publishing, 1942....
1937 - Hawker HotspurHawker Hotspur|-See also:-Bibliography:* Brew, Alex. The Turret Fighters - Defiant and Roc. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press, 2002. ISBN 1-86126-497-6....
1938 - Hawker TornadoHawker Tornado-See also:-Bibliography:* Darling, Kev. Hawker Typhoon, Tempest and Sea Fury. Ramsgate, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: The Crowood Press Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-86126-620-0....
1939 - Hawker TyphoonHawker TyphoonThe Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
1940 - Hawker TempestHawker TempestThe Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war....
1942 - Hawker F.2/43 Fury 1943 Prototype
- Hawker Sea FuryHawker Sea FuryThe Hawker Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft developed for the Royal Navy by Hawker during the Second World War. The last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, it was also one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built.-Origins:The Hawker Fury was an...
1944 - Hawker P.1040 1947 Prototype
- Hawker Sea HawkHawker Sea HawkThe Hawker Sea Hawk was a British single-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm , the air branch of the Royal Navy , built by Hawker Aircraft and its sister company, Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. Although its origins stemmed from earlier Hawker piston-engined fighters, the Sea Hawk became the...
1947 - Hawker P.1052Hawker P.1052-Further reading:* Green, William and Cross, Roy. The jet aircraft of the world. London: Macdonald and Company, 1955.* Hannah, Donald. Hawker FlyPast Reference Library. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-946219-01-X....
1948 Prototype - Hawker P.1072Hawker P.1072-See also:-References:* Hannah, Donald. Hawker FlyPast Reference Library. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-946219-01-X....
1950 Prototype - Hawker P.1078 Prototype
- Hawker P.1081Hawker P.1081|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Hannah, Donald. Hawker FlyPast Reference Library. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-946219-01-X....
1950 Prototype - Hawker P.1072Hawker P.1072-See also:-References:* Hannah, Donald. Hawker FlyPast Reference Library. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-946219-01-X....
1950 Prototype - Hawker HunterHawker HunterThe Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
1951- Hawker Hunter variantsHawker Hunter variantsThe following is a list of Variants of the Hawker Hunter fighter aircraft:-Prototypes:Hawker P.1067Hawker P.1083Hawker P.1101-Production versions:Hunter F.1Hunter F.2Hunter Mk 3...
- List of Hawker Hunter operators
- Hawker Hunter variants
- Hawker P.1121Hawker P.1121-Bibliography:*Mason, Francis K. Hawker Aircraft Since 1920. London. Conway Maritime Press Ltd, 1991. ISBN 0 85177 839 9...
Late 1950s prototype - Hawker P.1127Hawker P.1127The Hawker P.1127 and the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1 were the experimental and development aircraft that led to the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first vertical and/or short take-off and landing jet fighter-bomber...
1960 Prototype - Hawker P.1214