Tomtit

The Hawker Tomtit was a British single‑engine, two‑seat biplane developed by Hawker Aircraft in the early 1920s as a successor to the Avro 504. First flown in 1921, the Tomtit entered RAF service in 1922, primarily as a trainer and communications aircraft. Powered originally by a 130 hp (97 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Lynx radial engine, later examples received the more reliable 150 hp Lynx IV. Its wooden wing structure with fabric covering and a steel‑tube fuselage gave a light yet robust airframe, while the tandem open cockpits provided excellent visibility for both instructor and pupil. The aircraft’s relatively low stall speed, gentle handling and short‑field capability made it ideal for elementary flight instruction, and it saw extensive use in the Royal Air Force’s flying schools and in overseas colonies. A small number were exported to civilian operators and used for liaison duties during the inter‑war period. Though quickly superseded by the Hawker Hart family, the Tomtit proved a vital stepping‑stone in pilot training, helping to professionalise RAF aviators and influencing the design philosophy of later trainers. Its legacy endures as a symbol of the transition from World War I biplanes to more modern inter‑war aircraft.