The Hawker Demon was a fighter variant of the Hart light bomber. It was developed as when the Hart entered service, it was virtually un-interceptable by the RAF's fighters, which was demonstrated in air defence exercises where they were sometimes instructed to restrict their height and speed in order to give the RAF's Siskins and Bulldogs a chance. While the Hawker Fury offered better performance, it was expensive and was only available in small numbers, so when a fighter version of the Hart was suggested, the Air Ministry selected the type as an interim fighter until higher performance dedicated fighters could be bought in larger numbers. The new fighter variant added a second Vickers machine gun, while the coaming of the rear cockpit was angled to give a better field of fire, and a supercharged Kestrel IS engine was fitted. Evaluation of an initial batch of six aircraft, known as Hart Fighters by one flight of 23 Squadron during 1931 was successful, and larger orders followed for the fighter Hart, now known as the Hawker Demon. First Flight on February 10th, 1933.

305 Hawker Demons were built including 232 for the RAF. The Demon were powered by varying types of the Kestrel engine. It had an armament of a single rear .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Gun with two .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns in the nose. Large numbers of the type were fitted with a hydraulically powered turret in the rear, which had been tested on the Hawker Hart. The Demon was also sold to the Royal Australian Air Force. It saw only brief second line operations during the Second World War. Production of the Demon was by Hawker and by Boulton Paul Aircraft, Norwich.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale diecast replica of a RAF Hawker Demon light bomber dubbed "G-BTVE" (K8203), which is part of the Shuttleworth Collection. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 5-1/4-inches
Wingspan: 6-3/4-inches

Release Date: August 2014

Historical Account: "Of Angels and Demons" - Demon G-BTVE took to the air after an 18 year restoration on 23rd June 2009. Painted in the colours of 64 Squadron RAF and with serial number K8203, the Demon is the sole remaining flying example of this important interwar type. One of a batch of 37 built by Boulton Paul Aircraft in Wolverhampton, K8203 was originally assigned to 64 Squadron at Church Fenton before passing to No.9 Maintenance Unit at RAF Cosford and then to No.9 Air Observers School (later renamed No. 9 Bombing & Gunnery School) at RAF Penrhos.

K8203 was struck off charge in September 1940 but served on as a ground training aid. The aircraft was finally retired properly in 1943. Acquired first by Guy Black and then Demon Displays the Demon was restored by Skysport Engineering and is now based at Old Warden in the United Kingdom.