Hawker Siddeley represented one of the most significant consolidations in British aviation history, bringing together legendary manufacturers including Hawker, Avro, Gloster, Armstrong Whitworth, de Havilland, Blackburn, and Folland under one corporate umbrella. Formed in 1935 but not using the Hawker Siddeley brand on aircraft until 1963, the company produced some of Britain's most important military and civil aircraft, including the revolutionary Harrier jump jet and the Hawk trainer that remains in service worldwide today.
The Hawker Siddeley Brand: A New Identity (1963)
Prior to 1963, aircraft were produced under the names of subsidiary companies (Hawker Hurricane, Gloster Javelin, de Havilland Comet, Avro Vulcan). From 1963 onward, new designs carried the Hawker Siddeley designation, though many existing designs continued production under the HS banner.
Original Hawker Siddeley Designs
Civil Airliners
HS.121 Trident (1962)
- Originated as de Havilland DH.121, a three-engine jet airliner designed for BEA. Featured advanced avionics and was one of the first aircraft with automatic landing capability. Served primarily with British European Airways and later British Airways.
HS.125 and Dominie (1962)
- Originated as de Havilland DH.125, became one of the most successful British business jets. Military variant served as Dominie trainer and communications aircraft. The design evolved through multiple variants and remained in production for decades, later as the BAe 125 and Raytheon Hawker series.
HS.748 (1960)
- Originated as Avro 748, a twin-turboprop regional airliner that became highly successful worldwide. Robust, reliable, and well-suited for operations from unprepared airstrips. Served with numerous airlines and air forces globally.
HS.780 Andover (1965)
- Military derivative of HS.748 with rear loading ramp, serving the RAF as tactical transport. Featured distinctive upswept rear fuselage for cargo operations.
HS.146 (1981)
- Four-engine regional jet with high wing and quiet operation, later renamed BAe 146. Became successful in both civil and military roles, particularly valued for operations from short runways and noise-restricted airports. Evolved into the Avro RJ series.
Military Aircraft: The VTOL Revolution
P.1127 Kestrel (1964)
- Originated as a Hawker project, the experimental V/STOL aircraft that proved the viability of vectored thrust vertical takeoff. Nine evaluation aircraft built for tripartite trials with UK, US, and West Germany.
Harrier (1966)
- The revolutionary V/STOL strike fighter developed from P.1127, becoming the world's first operational vertical/short takeoff and landing jet combat aircraft. Proved decisive in the Falklands War and served with the RAF, Royal Navy (Sea Harrier), US Marine Corps (AV-8), and other forces. Represented one of the most significant innovations in military aviation history.
HS.801 Nimrod (1967)
- Development of the de Havilland Comet as a maritime patrol aircraft for the RAF. Featured distinctive weapons bay and extended fuselage, becoming one of the most capable anti-submarine warfare aircraft of its era.
Nimrod R.1 (1973)
- Signals intelligence variant with extensive electronic equipment for reconnaissance missions. Served in highly classified roles throughout the Cold War and beyond.
HS.1182 Hawk (1974)
- Advanced jet trainer that became one of the most successful training aircraft ever built. Served with the RAF Red Arrows aerobatic team and numerous air forces worldwide. Evolved through multiple variants and remains in production today as the BAE Systems Hawk, with over 1,000 built.
Project Designs and Concepts
VTOL and V/STOL Projects
- P.1017 (1962) – VTOL-capable strike fighter concept
- P.1154 (1960s) – Ambitious supersonic V/STOL combat aircraft project intended to replace both Hunter and Sea Vixen. Cancelled in favor of conventional Phantom and subsonic Harrier.
- HS.138 (1969) – VTOL strike aircraft project
- HS.141 (1978/1979) – V/STOL airliner project submission
- Hawker Siddeley P.1184-16 Dash 18 – Prototype V/STOL design with tail gunner cockpit for aiming Taildog missiles
Other Projects
- P.1121 – Hawker supersonic fighter project
- P.139B – AEW (Airborne Early Warning) and COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) aircraft project
- HS.1200 – Project designation
- HS.1201 – Project designation
- Armstrong Whitworth AW.681 – Transport project renamed as HS.681, a VTOL tactical transport that was cancelled
Rotorcraft Projects
- Hawker Siddeley Helicrane – Cancelled flying crane helicopter project in three variants: HS (Helicopter Small), HM (Helicopter Medium), and HL (Helicopter Large). Inherited from Blackburn's SP.62 design, featuring six Bristol Siddeley turbojets in the rotor head exhausting at the rotor tips.
Airbus Collaboration
- Airbus A300 – Hawker Siddeley designed and built the wings for the A300 airliner, marking Britain's entry into European collaborative aircraft programs and establishing expertise that continues in today's Airbus wing production.
Continued Production of Subsidiary Designs
Hawker Siddeley continued building aircraft originally designed by its subsidiary companies during the 1960s:
From Avro
- Vulcan – The iconic delta-wing V-bomber continued production into the early 1960s, with the last Vulcan delivered to the RAF in 1965. Achieved fame in the Falklands War with the Black Buck raids.
- Argosy (1959) – Known as Armstrong Whitworth Argosy until 1963, this four-engine tactical transport featured twin-boom design. Last built in 1965.
From de Havilland
- Comet 4 – The world's first jet airliner continued production into the early 1960s, with the final Comet 4 rolling off the line in 1964.
- Dove – Light transport aircraft built during the 1960s, with the last delivered in 1967.
- Heron – Four-engine development of the Dove, with the last built in 1963.
- Sea Vixen – All-weather naval fighter built during the early 1960s, with the last delivered to the Royal Navy in 1965.
From Hawker
- Hunter – The beloved jet fighter continued production into the mid-1960s, with the final Hunter rolling off the line in 1966.
From Blackburn
- Buccaneer (1958) – Low-level strike aircraft originally designed by Blackburn. Hawker Siddeley built Buccaneers for the Royal Navy, South African Air Force during the 1960s, and RAF S.Mk.2B variants. Proved highly effective in the Gulf War.
From Folland
- Gnat – Lightweight fighter and trainer built during the early 1960s for the Finnish Air Force, Indian Air Force (where it was license-produced), and RAF (as advanced trainer). Famous as the mount of the RAF Red Arrows before the Hawk.
Legacy and Impact
The Harrier Achievement
Hawker Siddeley's greatest achievement was undoubtedly the Harrier, the world's first operational VTOL jet fighter. This revolutionary aircraft:
- Proved the viability of vectored thrust V/STOL operations
- Demonstrated decisive combat effectiveness in the Falklands War
- Influenced aircraft design worldwide, leading to the F-35B Lightning II
- Served with distinction in multiple air forces for over four decades
Training Excellence
The Hawk trainer became one of the most successful training aircraft ever built, serving with air forces worldwide and continuing in production decades after its first flight. Its combination of performance, economy, and versatility made it the standard against which other trainers are measured.
Maritime Patrol Leadership
The Nimrod represented innovative adaptation of civil airliner technology to military requirements, creating one of the most capable maritime patrol aircraft of the Cold War era.
Industrial Consolidation
Hawker Siddeley demonstrated both the benefits and challenges of industrial consolidation. While bringing together Britain's aviation expertise under one roof, the company also had to manage the transition from multiple proud heritage brands to a unified corporate identity.
European Collaboration
Hawker Siddeley's work on the Airbus A300 wings established British participation in European collaborative programs, leading to today's major role in Airbus production.
Transition to BAe
In 1977, Hawker Siddeley merged with the British Aircraft Corporation and Scottish Aviation to form British Aerospace (BAe), which later became BAE Systems. Many Hawker Siddeley designs continued in production and development under the new organization, with the Hawk and Harrier family remaining in service and production well into the 21st century.
From the revolutionary Harrier that changed the face of tactical air power to the Hawk that trains pilots worldwide, from the Nimrod that guarded Britain's maritime approaches to the Trident that pioneered automatic landing, Hawker Siddeley's legacy continues to influence aviation today.
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