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START OF AVIATION
In 1910 Thomas Sopwith created a new aviation project and tested his first flight. -
SOPWITH AVIATION COMPANY IS FOUNDED
The company was founded in Kingston upon Thames by Thomas Octave Murdoch (Tommy, later Sir Thomas) Sopwith in June 1912, when Sopwith was only 24 years old. The company's first factory premises opened that December in a recently closed roller skating rink in Canbury Park Road near Kingston Railway Station in South West London. -
SOPWITH TABLOID WINS SCHNEIDER TROPHY
Sopwith's first major success was the fast and compact (hence the name) Tabloid, a float-equipped version of this aircraft won the Schneider Trophy in 1914. -
SOPWITH STRUTTER 1 1/2
The first two-gun two-seat tractor fighter had its first flight. -
SOPWITH PUP
The first fixed-gun lightweight single-seat fighter had its first flight. It was the first wheeled aircraft to fly from a navy ship and land on a moving ship. -
SOPWITH CAMEL IS INVENTED
The Sopwith Camel's first flight was in late 1916. With a top speed of 118 mph the Sopwith Camel then went on to be one of the most known planes of WWI.The Sopwith Camel was fast and could carry a lot of artillery including twin Vickers machine guns and even a 20lb fuselage bomb. -
HAWKER AIRCRAFT LIMITED FOUNDED
Hawker Aircraft Limited (later called Hawker Siddeley Group) was set up close by to Sopwith Aviation Company, in Kingston. The company built many famous planes throughout both world wars and have had many achievments including the Hawker Harrier Jump Jet and the original Hawker Harrier. -
FIRST HAWKER AIRCRAFT BUILT
The first of all the HAwker aircraft was the Hawker Duiker which was used for reconnaissance after World War One. The Duiker had an all-wood structure. The wing had a slight sweep-back, which gave rise to instability at all speeds, and even caused the separation of the wing from the rear struts. The fin was rather small and was typical of Sopwith design in shape. Only one aircraft was built. -
Hawker Fury
First 200 mph fighter in RAF -
Hawker Hurricane
This plane was crucial in the battle of britain and was the most successful allied fighter in world war II. 8 guns and the first 300 mph fighter in RAF. -
Hawker Typhoon
First 400mph plane in the RAF -
Hawker Tempest
Took down the most V1 flying bombs in WWII -
(HAWKER SIDDELEY) HARRIER JUMP JET INVENTED
The first VTOL (Vertical TakeOff and Landing) aircraft to be put into military use. This is the second Harrier after the Hawker Harrier built in February 1927. -
Hawker Hawk
Last all britsh aircraft to go into service. Still operational with RAF today
