Hawker Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer responsible for some of the most famous products in British aviation history.
History[]
Hawker had its roots in the aftermath of the First World War which resulted in the bankruptcy of the Sopwith Aviation Company. 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".
Products[]
- Hawker Hurricane
- Hawker Sea Hurricane
- Hawker Hector
- Hawker Henley
- Hawker Hotspur
- Hawker Tornado
- Hawker Typhoon
- Hawker Tempest
- Hawker Sea Fury
- Hawker Sea Hawk
- Hawker P.1052
- Hawker P.1081
- Hawker Hunter
- Hawker Gyrfalcon
- Hawker Cyclone