Hawker Siddeley much larger firms. Out of this decision, came the "order" that all future contracts being offered had to include agreements to merge companies. In 1959, Folland Aircraft was acquired, followed by de Havilland Aircraft Company and Blackburn Aircraft in 1960. In 1963, the names of the constituent companies were dropped, with products being rebranded as ""Hawker Siddeley"" or ""HS"". In this period, the company developed the first operational, and, by far, the most successful VTOL jet aircraft, the Harrier family. This aircraft remained in production into the 1990s and remains in service. In 1948, Hawker Siddeley acquired a factory in
Hawker Hoopoe fitted during the short trial period, two variants of the Bristol Mercury were later replaced by an Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar and Panther with an increase in performance. Trials at Felixstowe in 1929 with floats fitted showed that the aircraft was severely underpowered with the Mercury powerplant, requiring the change to the Jaguar engine. Service interest in the type had waned by autumn 1930 although the single prototype continued in development flying with Armstrong Siddeley and the Royal Aircraft Establishment until 1932 when the Hoopoe was scrapped. Hawker Hoopoe The Hawker Hoopoe was a British prototype naval fighter aircraft designed and