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Sopwith Aviation Company created by flying enthusiast Sir Thomas Sopwith
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The plane was used briefly in the First World war as a seaplane in Belgium
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First Sopwith factory opened on a recently closed ice skating rink in Canbury Gardens
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An early collaboration with S. E. Saunders on the Isle of Wight creates a Sopwith Flying Boat, a single engined, push-operated flying boat.
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The Sopwith tabloid wins the Schneider Cup trophy comfortably and wa resdponsible for a great leap forward in Sopwith Aviaiton.
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Another, smaller, Sopwith factory opens in Woolstone, Hampshire.
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Sopwith contributes 16,000 aircraft to the War effort and employs 5,00 staff at both factories. The most famous aircraft made, and the most successful, was the "Sopwith Camel."
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An early bomber designed with the Navy to drop torpedoes in sea battles
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5,590 Sopwith Camels, the first dedicated biplane fighters the British used in wartime, are made by Sopwith during WW1.
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Sopwith makes 400cc motorcycle engines with ABC motorcycles. An attempt to purchase the company failed.
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Sopwith Aviation collapses. Upon liquidation of the company, Thomas Sopwith and test pilots Harry Hawker, Fred Sigrist and Bill Eyre formed H.G. Hawker engineering, the predescessor of the Hawker Aircraft factory.
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The Hawker Hunter was a dedicated fighter plane that sacrified stability for extreme speed and maneuvrability (for a biplane), reaching speeds of 150 mph and still being able to turn without using its rudder.
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The Hawker Hart was a light bomber designed by Hawker to suit the RAF's inter war period. It was an all metal plane with a top speed of 160 mph; This measure of extra protection that didn't hinder maneuvrability was highly sought-after long into the Second World War and so the Hartwas reformed and redesigned many times, culminating in the Hawker Osprey, which leaned more towards digfights due to its speed and heavy machine guns.
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Hawker eningeering takes advantage of their relatively stable economic situation during the Great Depression and purchase Gloster aircraft company.
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The Spitfire was a single pilot fighter plane crucial in attaniing victory throughout the war. It was best suited to intercepting bombers in the battle of Britain, but wasl ater adapted for photo-reconnaissance. Due to its unique construction, it was much faster than all other planes in use during WW2 and its lower attrition during the Battle of Britain ensured it was remebered as THE plane that represented British Resistance during the Second World War.
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Hawker produces 14,000 Hurricane and 20,351 Spitfire models during the Battle of Britain.
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Hawker Aicraft merges with Armstrong Siddely and Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft to form Hawker Siddely and A. V. Roe & Company.
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The Hawker Hurricane was a one man fighter plane that would be crucial in attaining 60% of English successes in the Battle of Britain. It was famed for its durability, reliability and stability and these qualities meant that, combined with spophisticated fuelling, the Hurricane was evenly matched against Messerschmitt fighter planes.
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The Hawker Hunter was a result of the trialling of jet engine technology after the Second World Air. It was created as a one man fighter aircraft, but its jet engine capabilities made it an ideal bomber and reconnaissance craft as well. 1972 Hunters were built in total. To suit reconnaissance missions, a refined design allowed for two pilots.
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Hawker P.1127 becomes the last "Hawker" plane
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The Hawker Harrier was the first plane to perfect jump jet technology. It was able to tilt its engines from downwards to normal engine position, allowing for verticle take-off, hovering and normal flying. The first major conflict it was used in was the Falklands, where it was crucial in attaining victory, but it is still used in a few major World Air forces, such as the US marine corps.
