Hawker Demon
Hawker Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1933 · fighter
The Hawker Demon was a two-seat fighter biplane that served with the RAF throughout the 1930s, derived directly from the Hawker Hart light bomber. It was one of the last biplane fighters to serve in front-line RAF squadrons before the monoplane era.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.2 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-seat biplane fighter with staggered wings
- Rear gunner position with Scarff ring
- Tandem open cockpits
Distinguished from the Hart by its rear gunner's Scarff ring, the Demon shares the Hart's elegant staggered-biplane outline with tapered upper and lower wings; the two open tandem cockpits and spatted undercarriage are hallmarks of the design.
Specifications
- The Hawker Demon has a length of 9.2 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.35 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 298 km/h (185 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from the Hawker Hart by fitting a more powerful Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine and adding a rear gunner position, the Demon first flew in 1930 and entered RAF service in 1931. It equipped numerous home-defence squadrons and saw export success with Australia. Production totalled around 305 aircraft before the type was superseded by monoplane fighters.
Variants
The principal variants were the standard Demon and the Turret Demon, the latter retrofitted with a Fraser-Nash hydraulic gun turret enclosing the rear cockpit; Australian examples were built locally by Commonwealth Aircraft.
Where you'll see it
Surviving examples are preserved in Australia and the United Kingdom; the Fleet Air Arm Museum and the Australian War Memorial both hold significant artefacts relating to the type.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.