Reply #3: Hawker Hurricane: Defender of the Empire (as the Brits called it) [View All]

[DemoTex]

Hawker Hurricane

The Hawker Hurricane was one of the famous British fighters of WW II. The prototype was first flown in November 1935 and the first production aircraft made its initial flight in October 1937. Within a matter of weeks, Hurricanes were being delivered to their operational squadrons. By the time the war broke out in September 1939, the Royal Air Force (RAF) had taken delivery of about 500 Hurricanes as production continued.

The hurricane is probably best known for its performance during the Battle of Britain. When the battle commenced in July 1940, the RAF Fighter Command had but 527 Hurricanes and 321 Spitfires to counter the enemy's 2,700 aircraft. Yet, the RAF was able to maintain air superiority in the skies of Great Britain.

Hurricanes were built not only in Great Britain but also in Yugoslavia, before the German invasion, and in Canada during the 1940-1942 period. they were flown by pilots of many nations during the war. The Hawker Hurricane MKIIa on display is a Canadian built airframe painted to represent an aircraft of 71 Squadron, Royal Air Force, one of the three Eagle Squadrons of WW II. Americans in the RAF flew Hurricane MKIIa's with this unit from May to August 1941.

The Museum acquired this Hurricane MK IIa through an exchange with RRS Aviation of Hawkins, Texas, which also restored the aircraft.

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 40 ft.
Length: 31 ft. 4 in.
Height: 13 ft.
Weight: 7,200 lbs. loaded
Armament: Eight .303-cal. Browning machine guns
Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin XX of 1,260 hp.
Crew: One

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 340 mph.
Cruising speed: 238 mph.
Range: 468 miles with internal fuel only; 1,090 miles with two 90 gal. ferry tanks
Service Ceiling: 35,000 ft.

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/early_years/ey15a.htm

This is what I always think of when I see HawkerHurricane on the DU boards. What a fine choice for a DU handle. What a fine man to live up to the reputation of the handle he chose.

BTW: There was a later version of the Hawker Hurricane with a five-bladed propeller. I saw one of those at the air show in Oshkosh in the late 1970's. Too cool. Too loud, too!