The Sopwith / Hawker "blood line"

The Hawker Hurricane - the RAF's forgotten fighter star of the Battle of Britain.

The Sopwith / Hawker "Blood Line"

Why was the Hawker Hurricane the right plane at the right time and in the right numbers?
Part of the answer was in the long history of the company and the many previous successes
(and many more that were to follow).

During February 1912 the "Sopwith School of Flying" was established at Brooklands, near London. On 4 July 1912 the first aircraft of thier own construction flew - a Gnome powered Sopwith-Wright biplane - known as the "School Biplane"or "Hybrid". This marked the start of the Sopwith Aviation Co. Ltd.
	1913 - Sopwith D1 "Three-Seater" (built from the "School Biplane" ) Format - Two/three seat general purpose biplane Production - 11 Engine - One 80 hp Gnome seven-cylinder air-cooled rotary Armament - Max Speed - 70mph Range - 2½ hours endurance
	1913 - Sopwith Bat Boat (Type 1 & 2) Format - Two seat biplane pusher flying boat Production - 3 Engine Type 1 - One 90 hp Austro-Daimler Engine Type 1 - One 200 hp Canton-Unne or Sunbeam Armament - none Max Speed - 65mph Range - 2 hours endurance
	1913 - Sopwith HT (Tractor Seaplane) Format - Two seat biplane seaplane Production - 3 Engine - One 100 hp Anzani radial Armament - Max Speed - Range -
	1913 - Sopwith Circuit Seaplane Format - Two seat biplane seaplane for 1913 Circuit of Britain Race Production - 1 Engine - One 100 hp Green six cylinder inline Armament - none Max Speed - 65mph Range -
	1913 - Sopwith Type 807 Format - two seat seaplane biplane Production - 12 Engine - One 100 hp Gnome rotary Armament - Max Speed - 80mph Range - 3½hr endurance
	1913 - Sopwith Gunbus (SPGn) Format - two seat biplane pusher fighter Production - 29 Engine - One 100 hp Anzani or 150 hp Sunbeam Armament - one 1½lb. Vickers gun or Maxim machine gun Max Speed - Range - 2½hr endurance
Sopwith Tabloid replica, RAF Museum, Hendon Aug 2004	1914 - Sopwith Tabloid (also SS & Sociable) Format - single seat biplane fighter Production - 36 Engine - One 80 hp Gnome rotary Armament - hand-held smallarms Max Speed - 93mph Range - 3hr endurance
	1914 - Sopwith Gordon Bennett Racer Format - Single seat biplane Gordon Bennett Racer Production - 2 Engine - One 80 hp Gnome rotary Armament - Max Speed - 105mph Range -
	1914 - Sopwith Type C Format - two seat biplane torpedo seaplane Production - 3 Engine - One 200 hp Salmson radial Armament - One 900 lb torpedo Max Speed - Range - 4hr endurance
	1914 - Sopwith Type 137 Format - two seat seaplane biplane Production - 1 Engine - One 120 hp Austro-Daimler inline Armament - Max Speed - Range -
	1914 - Sopwith Type 860 Format - two seat seaplane biplane Production - 18 Engine - One 225 hp Sunbeam Mohawk V12 cylinder Armament - torpedo Max Speed - Range -
	1914 - Sopwith Two Seat Scout - "Spinning Jenny" Format - two seat biplane reconnaissance Production - 24 Engine - One 100 hp Gnome rotary Armament - Max Speed - 69mph Range - 3½hr endurance
	1914 - Sopwith Schneider Format - Single seat biplane fighter seaplane Production - 137 Engine - One 100 hp Gnome rotary Armament - One Lewis machine gun and 65 lb bomb Max Speed - 87mph Range - 3hr endurance
	1914 - Sopwith Baby Format - Single seat biplane fighter and bombing seaplane Production - 286 Engine - One 110 hp Clerget rotary Armament - One Lewis machine gun and 2x65 lb bombs Max Speed - 100mph Range - 2hr endurance
	1915 - Sopwith LCT 1½ Strutter Format - two seat biplane reconnaissance/fighter Production - 5,466 Engine - One 110 hp Clerget 9Z engine Armament - One forward firing Vickers machine gun with Lewis gun and up to 300lb bombs Max Speed - 96mph Range - 4hr endurance
	1915 - Sopwith Sparrow (a version of the Pup?) Format - single seat biplane fighter Production - 5 Engine - One 50 hp Gnome Armament - Max Speed - Range -
Sopwith Pup (replica) Midland Air Museum - July 2004	1916 - Sopwith SLTPB Pup Format - Single seat biplane fighter Production - 1,847 Engine - One 80 hp Le Rhone Armament - One 0.303 in Vickers machine-gun Max Speed - 104mph Range - 3hr endurance
	1916 - Sopwith Triplane Format - single seat triplane fighter Production - 152 Engine - One 110 hp Clerget Armament - One fixed Vickers gun Max Speed - 112mph Range - 2½hr endurance
2F.1 - Imperial War Museum, London - Aug 2004	1916 - Sopwith F1 & 2F.1 Camel Format - Single seat biplane fighter Production - F1 5,400+ & 2F.1 250 Engine - One 130 hp Clerget 9B rotary Armament - Two forward firing 0.303in Vickers machine guns Max Speed - 105mph Range - 2½hr endurance
	1917 - Sopwith Bee Format - Single seat experimental biplane Production - 1 Engine - One 50 hp Gnome rotary Armament - Max Speed - Range -
	1917 - Sopwith B1 /B2 Format - Single seat biplane bomber Production - 2 Engine - One 200 hp Hispano-Suiza Armament - 560 lb bombs Max Speed - 118mph Range - 2½hr endurance
	1917 - Sopwith T1 Cuckoo Format - Single seat carrier-borne or land-based biplane torpedo bomber Production - 233 Engine - One 200 hp Sunbeam Arab Armament - one 18in torpedo Max Speed - 102mph Range - 4 hr endurance
	1917 - Sopwith 5F.1 Dolphin Format - Single seat biplane fighter Production - 1,559 Engine - One 200 hp Hispano-Suiza Armament - 2 fixed Vickers guns and 2 Lewis gun Max Speed - 120mph Range - 2hr endurance
	1917 - Sopwith 2B.2 Rhino Format - Two seat triplane bomber Production - 2 Engine - One 230 hp BHP Armament - one fixed 0.303in Vickers machine guns and one Lewis gun for gunner Max Speed - 103mph Range - 3¼hours endurance
	1917 - Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe Format - Single seat biplane fighter Production - 2,103 Engine - One 230 hp Bentley BR2 rotary Armament - Two fixed Vickers machine guns Max Speed - 121mph Range - 3hr endurance
	1918 - Sopwith 3F.2 Hippo Format - Two seat biplane fighter Production - 2 Engine - One 200 hp Clerget Armament - Two fixed 0.303in Vickers machine guns and two Lewis guns for gunner Max Speed - 115mph Range -
	1918 - Sopwith 2FR.2 Bulldog Format - Two seat biplane fighter/reconnaissance Production - 2 Engine - One 200 hp Clerget Armament - Two fixed Vickers machine guns and two Lewis guns for gunner Max Speed - 109mph Range - 2 hours endurance
	1918 - Sopwith TF.2 Salamander Format - Single seat ground-attack biplane fighter Production - 150+ Engine - One 230 hp Bentley BR2 rotary Armament - Two fixed 0.303in Vickers machine guns Max Speed - 124mph Range - 2hours endurance
	1918 - Sopwith 8F.1 Snail Format - Single seat biplane fighter Production - 6 Engine - One 170 hp ABC Wasp radial Armament - Two fixed Vickers machine guns and one Lewis gun Max Speed - 114mph Range -
	1918 - Sopwith Buffalo Format - Two seat ground attack biplane fighter Production - 2 Engine - One 230 hp Bentley rotary Armament - one fixed 0.303in Vickers machine guns and Lewis gun for gunner Max Speed - 114mph Range -
	1919 - Sopwith Snark Format - Single seat triplane fighter Production - 3 Engine - One 360hp ABC Dragonfly Armament - Two fixed Vickers machine guns and four wing mounted Lewis guns Max Speed - 130mph Range -
	1919 - Sopwith Snapper Format - Single seat biplane fighter Production - 3 Engine - One 360hp ABC Dragonfly Armament - Two fixed Vickers machine guns Max Speed - 140mph Range -
	1919 - Sopwith Cobham Format - triplane bomber Production - 3 Engine - two 360hp ABC Dragonfly Armament - two Lewis guns for gunner Max Speed - Range -
	1919 - Sopwith Atlantic Format - long distance biplane Production - 1 Engine - one 375hp Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII Armament - none Max Speed - 118mph Range -
	1919 - Sopwith Wallaby Format - long distance biplane Production - 2 Engine - one 360hp Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII Armament - none Max Speed - 115mph Range -
	1919 - Sopwith Dove Format - two seat civil biplane Production - 10 Engine - one 80hp Le Rhone Armament - none Max Speed - 100mph Range - 2½hours endurance
	1919 - Sopwith Gnu Format - three seat commercial biplane Production - 12 Engine - one 230hp BR2 Armament - none Max Speed - 93mph Range - 3½hours endurance
	1919 - Sopwith Antelope Format - three seat commercial biplane Production - 2 Engine - one 180hp Wolseley Viper Armament - none Max Speed - 110mph Range -
	1919 - Sopwith Grasspopper Format - two seat civil biplane Production - 2 Engine - one 100hp Anzani Armament - none Max Speed - 90mph Range -
In 1920 the H.G. Hawker Engineering Co.Ltd. was formed with it's registered office at Canbury Park Road, Kingston-upon-Thames.
	1923 - Hawker Woodcock Format - two seat biplane night fighter Production - 60+ Engine - One 358hp. Bristol Jaguar II air cooled radial Armament - Two Vickers machine guns Max Speed - 143mph Range - 2½hours endurance
	1923 - Hawker Duiker Format - Two seat parasol wing reconnaissance Production - 1 Engine - One 389 hp Bristol Jupiter IV air cooled radial Armament - One fixed Vickers machine gun in nose with Lewis gun for observer Max Speed - 125mph Range - 340 miles
	1924 - Hawker Hedgehog Format - Three seat biplane naval reconnaissance Production - 1 Engine - One 398 hp Bristol Jupiter IV air cooled radial Armament - One fixed Vickers machine gun and one Lewis gun for observer Max Speed - 120mph Range - 2½ hours endurance
Hawker Cygnet RAF Museum, Cosford - 10 May 2002	1924 - Hawker Cygnet Format - Two seat sporting biplane for the Light Aeroplane Competition Production - 2 Engine - One 34 hp British Anzani 2 cylinder Armament - none Max Speed - 82mph Range -
	1925 - Hawker Danecock Format - single seat biplane fighter Production - 15 Engine - One 385 hp Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar 14 cylinder radial Armament - Max Speed - 145mph Range - 2½ hours endurance
	1925 - Hawker Heron Format - single seat biplane fighter Production - 1 Engine - One 455 hp Bristol Jupiter 9 cylinder radial Armament - Two Vickers machine guns Max Speed - 156mph Range - 3½ hours endurance
	March 1925 - Hawker Horsley Format - Two seat biplane bomber/torpedo bomber Production - 120+ Engine - One 665 hp Rolls-Royce Condor Armament - One fixed Vickers machine gun and one Lewis gun for observer. One torpedo or 1,500 lb of bombs Max Speed - 125mph Range - 10 hours endurance
	1926 - Hawker Hornbill Format - single seat biplane fighter Production - 1 Engine - One 698 hp Rolls-Royce Condor Armament - Max Speed - 187mph Range - 200 miles
	1927 - Hawker Hawfinch Format - single seat biplane fighter Production - 1 Engine - One 450 hp Bristol Jupiter VII radial Armament - two fixed Vickers machine guns Max Speed - 171mph Range -
	Early 1927 - Hawker Harrier Format - Two seat biplane bomber/torpedo bomber Production - 1 Engine - One 583 hp Bristol Jupiter VIII radial Armament - One fixed Vickers machine gun and one Lewis gun for observer. One torpedo or up to 1,000 lb bombs Max Speed - 135mph Range -
RAF Museum, Hendon Aug 2004	1928 - Hawker Hart Format - Two seat biplane light bomber & trainer Production - 900+ Engine - One 525 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel Armament - One fixed Vickers machine gun and one Lewis gun for observer and 520lb. bomb-load. Max Speed - 168mph Range - 430 miles
	1928 - Hawker F.20/27 Format - single seat biplane fighter Production - 1 Engine - One 450 hp Bristol Jupiter Armament - Two fixed Vickers machine guns Max Speed - 202mph Range - 3½ hours endurance
	1928 - Hawker Tomtit Format - Two seat basic trainer biplane Production - 30+ Engine - One 150 hp Armstrong Siddeley Mongoose radial Armament - Max Speed - 124mph Range -
	1928 - Hawker Hoopoe Format - single seat naval biplane fighter Production - 1 Engine - One 450 hp Bristol Mercury radial Armament - Two fixed Vickers machine guns Max Speed - 196mph Range -
	1929 - Hawker Hornet Format - single seat biplane fighter Production - 1 Engine - One 480 hp Rolls-Royce F.XIS Armament - Two fixed Vickers machine guns Max Speed - 205mph Range -
Hawker Fury I reproduction "K5673" [BAPC 249] Brooklands Museum, Aug 2007	1929 - Hawker Fury Format - single seat biplane fighter Production - 260+ Engine - One 525 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V12 Armament - Two fixed Vickers machine guns Max Speed - 207mph Range - 270 miles
	1930 - Hawker Nimrod Format - Single seat naval biplane fighter Production - 60+ Engine - One 477 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V12 Armament - Two fixed Vickers machine guns & 4x20 lb bombs Max Speed - 196mph Range -
	1931 - Hawker Audax Format - Two seat Army co-operation biplane Production - 700+ Engine - One 530 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V12 Armament - One fixed Vickers machine gun & one Lewis in rear cockpit and 8x20 lb bombs Max Speed - 170mph Range - 3½ hours endurance
	1932 - Hawker Demon Format - Two seat biplane fighter Production - 300+ Engine - One 485hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V12 Armament - Two fixed Vickers machine guns and one Lewis machine gun in rear cockpit Max Speed - 181mph Range -
	1932 - Hawker Osprey Format - Two seat naval biplane fighter reconnaissance landplane or seaplane Production - 130+ Engine - One 630 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V12 Armament - one fixed Vickers machine gun and one Lewis machine gun in rear cockpit Max Speed - 168mph Range -
	1934 - Hawker Hardy Format - Two seat "tropical" general purpose biplane Production - 40+ Engine - One 530 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V12 Armament - one fixed Vickers machine gun and one Lewis machine gun in rear cockpit Max Speed - 164mph Range -
	1934 - Hawker P.V.3 Format - single seat day and night biplane fighter Production - 1 Engine - One 695 hp Rolls-Royce Goshawk III Armament - Four fixed machine guns Max Speed - 224mph Range -
	1934 - Hawker P.V.4 Format - Two seat light bomber biplane Production - 1 Engine - One 820 hp Bristol Pegasus X radial Armament - one fixed Vickers machine gun and one Lewis machine gun in rear cockpit and 570lb. bomb-load Max Speed - 183mph Range -
Hind (Afghan) reproduction [BAPC.82] – RAF Cosford Nov 2008	1934 - Hawker Hind Format - Two seat bomber biplane Production - 590+ Engine - One 640 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V12 Armament - Max Speed - 187mph Range -
	1935 - Hawker Hartbees Format - Two seat ground support aircraft biplane Production - 60+ Engine - One 608 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V12 Armament - One fixed Vickers machine gun and one Lewis in rear cockpit and light bombs Max Speed - 176mph Range - Range - 3¼ hours endurance
Photograph - Aerospace Museum, Cosford - May 2002	6 November 1935 - Hawker Hurricane Format - Single seat monoplane fighter Production - 15,195 Engine - One 1,030 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 Armament - 8 Browning 0.303in. machine guns Max Speed - 340mph Range - 470 miles
	1936 - Hawker Hector Format - Two seat army cooperation biplane Production - 175+ Engine - One 805hp Napier Dagger H24 cylinder Armament - one fixed Vickers machine gun and one Lewis machine gun in rear cockpit Max Speed - 187mph Range -
	1937 - Hawker Henley Format - Two seat target towing monoplane Production - 200+ Engine - One 1,030 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 Armament - none Max Speed - 270mph Range - 950 miles
	1938 - Hawker Hotspur Format - Two seat gun-turret fighter Production - 1 Engine - One 1,025 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 Armament - single fixed Vickers machine gun and four Browning machine gun gun-turret Max Speed - 316mph Range -
	1939 - Hawker Tornado Format - single seat monoplane fighter Production - 4 Engine - One 1,760hp Rolls-Royce Vulture H24 cylinder Armament - Max Speed - 398mph Range -
RAF Museum, Hendon Aug 2004	1940 - Hawker Typhoon Format - Single seat monoplane fighter bomber Production - 3,271 Engine - One 2,100 hp Napier Sabre H24 cylinder Armament - four 20mm. cannon and 2x1,000 lb bombs or 8 rockets Max Speed - 412mph Range - 510 miles
Hawker Tempest V, RAF Museum, Hendon Aug 2004	1943 - Hawker Tempest Format - Single seat monoplane fighter-bomber Production - 1,404 Engine - One 2,180 hp Napier Sabre H24 cylinder Armament - Four 20mm. Hispano cannon and eight rocket projectiles or 2x1,000 lb bombs Max Speed - 426mph Range - 740 miles
	1944 - Hawker F.2/43 Fury & Sea Fury Format - Single seat naval monoplane fighter Production - 900 Engine - One 2,480hp Bristol Centaurus 18 cylinder radial Armament - Four 20mm. Hispano cannon and 2x500 lb bombs, or twelve rocket projectiles Max Speed - 460mph Range - 1,040 miles
Armstrong Whitworth Sea Hawk FGA.6 WV797 Midland Air Museum - July 2004	1947 - Hawker P.1040 & Sea Hawk (Armstrong Whitworth Sea Hawk) Format - Single seat naval monoplane fighter bomber Production - 530+ Engine - One 4,500lb. thrust Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet Armament - Four 20mm. cannon and bombs or rocket projectiles Max Speed - 599mph at sea-level Range -
	1948 - Hawker P.1052 Format - Single seat swept wing research monoplane Production - 2 Engine - One 5,000 lb Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet Armament - none Max Speed - 682mph at sea-level Range -
	1950 - Hawker P.1081 Format - Single seat swept wing experimental monoplane Production - 1 Engine - One 5,000lb thrust Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet Armament - none Max Speed - 604mph at sea-level Range -
	1950 - Hawker P.1072 Format - single seat experimental rocket powered monoplane fighter Production - 1 Engine - One 5,000lb thrust Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet and One 2,000lb thrust Armstrong Siddeley Snarler liquid fuel rocket Armament - none Max Speed - 581mph at sea-level Range -
Hawker Hunter F6A XF382 Midland Air Museum - July 2004	1951 - Hawker Hunter Format - Single seat fighter / ground attack Production - 2,050 Engine - One 5,500lb. thrust Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engine Armament - Four 30 mm Aden & various warloads Max Speed - 650mph at sea-level Range - 1,840 miles
Science Museum, London Aug 2004	1961 - Hawker P.1127 Format - single seat experimental Vertical Take Off & Landing monoplane Production - 6 Engine - One 10,500lb. thrust Bristol Pegasus vectored thrust turbofan Armament - none Max Speed - 720 mph at sea-level Range -
	1964 - Hawker Siddeley Kestrel Format - Single seat VTOL tactical close support monoplane Production - 9 Engine - One 15,000lb. thrust Bristol Pegasus vectored thrust turbofan Armament - none Max Speed - 710 mph at sea-level Range -
BAe Harrier GR3 - RAF Museum, Hendon Aug 2004	1967 - Hawker Siddeley Harrier Format - Single seat VTOL Tactical close support monoplane Production - 1,000+ of various versions Engine - One 21,500lb. thrust Bristol Pegasus vectored thrust turbofan Armament - two 30mm gun pods and 5,000lb. warload Max Speed - 736mph. at sea-level Range - 2,340miles (max.)
	1974 - Hawker Siddeley P.1182 Hawk Format - two seat advancer trainer Production - 600+ Engine - One 5,200lb thrust Rolls-Royce Adour Mk.151 turbofan Armament - none as standard Max Speed - 615mph. at sea-level Range - 1,510miles

V1.3 - 22 June 2011.