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Sopwith Aviation Factory is set up
The Sopwith Aviation Factory is set up in Kingston on Canterbury Road. -
Sopwith Camel is created
The Sopwith Camel is created by Tommy Sopwith and has many good features including... -Two Vickers Machine Guns
-A Powerful engine
-A lightweight aluminium front
-Tail heavy for easy turning -
Hawker Takes over Sopwith
The Sopwith Aviation Company is liquidated by the government. However, Tommy Sopwith, not to be hindered, sets up a new company under the name of his Chief Test Pilot Harry Hawker. -
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurrincane was one of the most successful aircraft for the Allied side in WWII. It was a single seater aeroplane with one rotary engine at the front, and won the allies the Battle of Britain. It benefitted from: -Being powered by a Rolls Royce PV-12 Engine
-Not having the complicated Biplane Design
-Metal Skinned wings, which allowed diving speeds of up to 80mph faster than the old fabric ones -
Hawker Hunter is flown for the First Time
The Hawker Hunter was the first ever Jet Engined Aircraft manufactured by Hawkers for the RAF and later the Navy. There were many good things about this iconic aircraft: -Being propelled by Jet Engines meant that the Hunter could reach speeds up to 715mph
-The Hunter was equipped with 4 Avon Cannons which gave it an edge in dogfights -
Hawker Harrier is First Flown
Although many variations of the Hawker Harrier came later, notably in the Falklands war, the origional Harrier was flown in December 1967. It was the first major plane to use the V/STOL system. It was well armed and was very succesful The Harrier took off vertically using rotating nosels, which directed the flow of air down instead of behind, thrusting the plane up not sideways. -
The Sea Harrier is put into action
By now, the Hawker Harrier had become famous and The Navy now made an adaption to the Hawker, making it Aircraft Carrier Friendly. This version was called the Sea Harrier
