Hawker Aircraft

Hawker Aircraft Limited
Company type	Private company
Industry	Aerospace, Defence
Predecessor	Sopwith Aviation Company
Founded	1920; 106 years ago
Founder	Harry Hawker, Thomas Sopwith
Defunct	1963
Fate	Merged with Armstrong Siddeley and Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft to form Hawker Siddeley Aircraft
Successor	Hawker Siddeley Aircraft
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom, Royal Air Force, international military customers
Key people	Harry Hawker, Thomas Sopwith, Sydney Camm, Roy Chaplin, Robert Lickley, Richard Walker, George Bulman, Bill Humble, Wimpy Wade, Neville Duke, Bill Bedford
Products	Military aircraft (fighters, bombers), business jets (post-1993 under Raytheon and Hawker Beechcraft)
Parent	Hawker Siddeley Group (from 1955)

Hawker Aircraft Limited was a prominent British aircraft manufacturer, renowned for producing some of the most distinguished aircraft in the history of British aviation.

History

The origins of Hawker trace back to the period following the First World War, when the Sopwith Aviation Company faced insolvency. Test pilot Harry Hawker, along with associates including Thomas Sopwith, took control of Sopwith’s assets and established H. G. Hawker Engineering in 1920.

In 1933, the firm adopted the name Hawker Aircraft Limited. During the economic challenges of the Great Depression, the company capitalized on its robust financial standing to purchase the Gloster Aircraft Company in 1934. The following year, it combined forces with Armstrong Siddeley and its subsidiary Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, resulting in the creation of Hawker Siddeley Aircraft, which also incorporated A. V. Roe and Company (Avro).

From 1955 onward, Hawker designs were developed under Hawker Siddeley Aircraft, a subdivision within the larger Hawker Siddeley Group. The "Hawker" name was discontinued in 1963, with the Hawker P.1127 marking its final aircraft model. The legacy of Hawker endured through American firm Raytheon, which continued producing business jets branded as "Hawker" after acquiring British Aerospace's product range in 1993. Subsequently, this branding was maintained by Hawker Beechcraft following Raytheon’s consolidation of its business jet operations.

Products

The initial design attributed to Hawker was the unconstructed Hawker Humpback from December 1920, succeeded by the prototype Hawker Duiker in July 1923. Throughout the interwar period, Hawker developed a series of successful bombers and fighters for the Royal Air Force, guided by designer Sydney Camm. Key aircraft from this era included the Hawker Hind and the extensively manufactured Hawker Hart.

During World War II, Hawker Siddeley emerged as a vital British aerospace producer, manufacturing legendary planes such as the Hawker Hurricane. Together with the Supermarine Spitfire, the Hurricane was instrumental in securing victory during the Battle of Britain, responsible for destroying 55% of enemy aircraft throughout that campaign.

Aircraft

Hawker Duiker 1923 prototype – first original Hawker design, single unit built, J6918
Hawker Woodcock 1923
Hawker Cygnet 1924
Hawker Hedgehog 1924 prototype
Hawker Horsley 1925
Hawker Heron 1925
Hawker Hornbill 1925
Hawker Danecock 1925
Hawker Harrier 1927 prototype
Hawker Hawfinch 1927
Hawker Hart 1928
Hawker F.20/27 1928 prototype
Hawker Hoopoe 1928
Hawker Tomtit 1928
Hawker Hornet 1929
Hawker Osprey 1929
Hawker Nimrod 1930
Hawker Fury 1931
Hawker Audax 1931 - army cooperation variant derived from Hart
Hawker Dantorp 1932 - biplane bomber for Royal Danish Navy, evolved from Horsley
Hawker Demon 1933 - fighter variant based on Hart
Hawker Hardy 1933 - general-purpose adaptation of Hart
Hawker P.V.3 1934 prototype
Hawker Hind 1934 - development derived from Hart
Hawker P.V.4 1934 prototype
Hawker Hartbeest 1935
Hawker Hurricane 1935 and associated variants including Sea Hurricane
Hawker Hector 1936 - army cooperation aircraft evolved from Hind, powered by Napier Dagger engine
Hawker Henley 1937
Hawker Hotspur 1938
Hawker Tornado 1939
Hawker Typhoon 1940
Hawker Tempest 1942
Hawker F.2/43 Fury 1943 prototype
Hawker Sea Fury 1944
P.1040 prototype leading to Sea Hawk
Hawker Sea Hawk 1947
Hawker P.1052 1948 prototype
Hawker P.1072 1950 prototype
Hawker P.1078 prototype
Hawker P.1081 1950 prototype
Hawker Hunter 1951 frontline jet fighter
P.1127 1960 experimental V/STOL aircraft

Projects

A selection of notable advanced initiatives showcasing Hawker's pioneering efforts in military aviation and VTOL innovation includes:

P.1005 – a fast, unarmed bomber driven by twin Napier Sabre engines, developed according to Specification B11/41
P.1140 – progression of the Sea Hawk
P.1052 – prototype featuring a swept wing version of the Sea Hawk
P.1067 – swept wing Hunter prototype equipped with an Avon engine
P.1083 – the fourth prototype of the Hunter series
P.1103 – a supersonic interceptor concept from the late 1950s
P.1121 – supersonic fighter design derived from the P.1103
P.1126 – VTOL fighter concept with a double delta wing configuration
P.1154 – 1960s era supersonic VTOL aircraft design
P.1182 – trainer aircraft design for the Hawk series

VTOL concepts from the 1980s:

* P.1214 – X-wing VTOL concept  
* P.1216 – swept wing VTOL variant based on the P.1214

These developments highlight Hawker’s commitment to enhancing supersonic performance and vertical takeoff/landing capabilities in response to shifting defense sector requirements.

Key people

Aircraft designers and engineers

Chief test pilots

External links

Hawker – British Aircraft Directory