Demon

The Hawker Demon was a two‑seat biplane fighter‑reconnaissance aircraft produced by Hawker Aircraft in the early 1930s. Developed from the successful Hawker Hart light bomber, the Demon first flew on 3 May 1931 and entered service with the Royal Air Force in 1933. Its design retained the Hart’s all‑metal, fabric‑covered wing structure but incorporated a more powerful Rolls‑Royce Kestrel I inline engine delivering 525 hp, giving a top speed of 182 mph and a service ceiling of 28,000 ft. The aircraft accommodated a pilot and an observer/gunner, the latter operating a flexible .303‑in Vickers gun while the pilot wielded a forward‑firing .303 Vickers or later a Hispano Mk II cannon. The Demon’s combined speed, climb rate, and armament made it suitable for both daylight interception and short‑range tactical reconnaissance, and it saw extensive use in the Middle East and North Africa during the late 1930s. Although quickly outclassed by monoplane fighters such as the Spitfire, the Demon proved a reliable workhorse, providing valuable experience in twin‑seat combat layouts that influenced later Hawker designs like the Hurricane. Its service record helped bridge the gap between biplane and modern monoplane eras in British aviation.