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Period: to
Sopwith Aviation Company
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The Sopwith Camel is put into production
THe Sopwith Camel was a biplane with two Vickers machine guns synchronised to fire through the propellor. The rotary engine produced a gyroscopic effect which caused it to pull right. This meant pilots wouldn't turn left in dogfights because it was too slow, but they would turn right because it was very easy and fast. The next year it was used mainly for ground attacks and ultra-low level strafing. -
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane won the Battle of Britain. It made up 60% of the British airforce but was largly seen as a minor role due to the Spitfire being so good. It was good for long flights and had four guns inside the wings. It could out turn a Spitfire but was slower. -
Hawker Typhoon
This was developed to counter Luftwaffe's Focke-Wulf Fw 190. It was the only plane fast enough to catch it at lower altitudes. It had severe tail problems at the beginning and 23 pilots were killed. After this was fixed it became a ground attack plane capable of carrying bombs and 2 rockets. -
Hawker Sea Hawk
The Hawker Sea Hawk had bifurcated jet exhausts that, when combined with the new space in the rear fuel tanks, meant that it could travel much further. This is because the exhausts reduced power loss. They also had folding wings. It had a triple undercarriage and so was easier to land on aircraft carriers than its rival, the Supermarine Attacker. -
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a jet fighter. It can fly just slower than sound. It had a Rolls-Royce Avon engine capable of producing 8,000lbs of thrust and it had an Aden machine gun just to the right of its nose. It had a radar system and it could also carry bombs and missiles. -
Hawker Harrier
The Hawker Harrier is famous for being able for being able to take off and land over extremely small distances, even vertically. The in-air refuelling nozzle was invented after seeing the hovering capabilities of this plane. It could carry several bombs and/or rockets. It uses a huge Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine and directs the thrust from this through adjustable vents. This is how it can hover.
