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Sopwith Aviation Company founded
Wiki Article
The Sopwith aviation company was founded by Thomas Sopwith when he was just 24. -
Period: to
World War One
The great war spanned four years and marked the birth of the fighter plane. -
Sopwith Camel
Wikipedia article The Sopwith Camel was first introduced on the western front in 1917. Its first flight was the 22cnd December 1916
It was a biplane with two synchronised vickers macine guns. It was very maneuverable but hard to handle. Its top speed was 115mph and it had a ceiling of 21,000 feet. All of this made it a big rival of the German Fokker DR.1 and scored it 1294 enemy aircraft, more than any other allied fighter. -
Sopwith Aviation Comopany becomes defunct
In 1920 the Sopwith Aviation Comopany became Hawker Aircraft limited. -
Hawker Fury
The Hawker Fury was a fighter biplane first flown in 1931. It was renamed from the Hornet to the Fury as the Air Ministry wanted a namne that 'reflected ferocity'. It carried two Vickers Mk.4 machine guns. It had a top speed of 223mph, and improvement on the 115mph of the Camel. it also had a service ceiling of 29,000 feet, an improvement on the 21,000 feet of the Camel. -
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker hurricane first flew on 6th January 1935. Although the Supermarine Spitfire received all the glory the Hurricane was arguably the greatest plane of WW2 and effectively won the Batlle of Britain.
It carried 4 Hispano Mk.II cannons and up to 2 25lb or 500lb bombs.
It had a top speed of 340mph, a huge improvement on the 223mph of the Fury. Its guns were encased in the wing so did not need to be synchronised. It was also made of better materials in the form of light metal. -
Period: to
World War Two
the Second World War lasted for 6 years and prompted the improvement of fighter plane technology. During this period, the fighter became a larger influence in the war with battles such as The Battle of Britain. -
Hawker Sea Fury
The Hawker Sea Fury was a fighter aircraft developed for the Royal navy during WWII. It was very similar in design to the Hurricane, but had an improved top speed of 460mph, it also had a service ceiling of 35,800 feet, which was not as good as the hurricane's 36,000 feet. -
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter was a subsonic jet aircraft first flon on 2o July 1951. It was a manoeuverable fighter aircraft at fist, but later served as a bomber and reconnaissance plane. With the discovery of the jet engine, planes were massiely faster, this one had a top speed of 715mph a huge increaseon the 460mph ofthe Hawker Sea fury. it alsohd a higher service ceiling of 50,000 feet. It was a larger plane able to carry heavy guns, bombs and missiles. -
Hawker Siddeley Harrier
The Hawker Siddeley Harrier (Harrier Jumpjet) was the first opeaional close-support and reconnaissance aircrat capapble of verticle take-off and landing (VTOL). This new VTOL technology made the harrier highly versalite and able to be flown at land and sea. its increase in speed from the Hunter was small, only 15mph difference and its service ceiling only 1,200 feet higher. It could however carry rockets, missiles, unguided ad even guided bombs, so its versatility was improved.
