Hawker-Siddeley

Hawker-Siddeley was a group of UK aircraft manufacturing company formed as a result of the merger of Hawker Aircraft with Armstrong-Siddeley. The resulting company combined the legacies of several well-known British aircarft manufacturers. It emerged as one of only two major manufacturers in the 1960s, and was eventually merged into British Aerospace (BAe) in 1977.

Hawker Aircraft Ltd

Renamed in 1933 to Hawker Aircraft Ltd, the company took advantage of the Great Depression and the company's strong financial position to purchase Gloster Aircraft in 1934. The next year it formed an association with a series of UK aviation companies including , Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, Armstrong Siddeley Motors, A.V. Roe and Air Training Services. This group of companies was renamed Hawker-Siddeley in 1935.

Related Topics:
Hawker Aircraft Ltd - Great Depression - Gloster Aircraft - Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft - Armstrong Siddeley Motors - A.V. Roe - 1935

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This was the form of the company during the Second World War, when it produced many aircraft in many designs including the famous Hawker Hurricane fighter plane, which along with the Supermarine Spitfire was instrumental in winning the Battle of Britain. (Hawker Hurricanes in service outnumbered all other British fighters combined, shooting down 55 percent of all enemy aircraft destroyed).

Related Topics:
Hawker Hurricane - Supermarine Spitfire - Battle of Britain

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Almost every Hawker Aircraft design of the Second World War was a success (even if not initially), mainly attributable to the design genius of Sidney Camm (later Sir Sidney) and the team he worked with.

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Designs included:

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• Hawker Typhoon
• Hawker Tempest
• Hawker Fury
• Hawker Sea Fury

Hawker Siddeley group designs in the Hawker-Siddeley stable included the Gloster Meteor, the first Allied jet fighter.

Related Topics:
Gloster Meteor - Allied

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After the war Hawker Aircraft produced one of the outstanding post war jet aircraft the Hawker Hunter, which set a world speed record of 728mph in 1953.

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