Wednesday 10 August 2011

Hawker Hurricane


In the summer of 1940 the fate of Europe hung in the balance. Victory in the forthcoming air battle would mean national survival; defeat would establish German tyranny.

The Luftwaffe greatly outnumbered the RAF, but during the Battle of Britain it was the RAF that emerged triumphant, thanks to two key fighter planes, the Spitfire and the Hurricane. The Hurricane made up over half of Fighter Command’s front-line strength, and its revolutionary design transformed the RAF's capabilities. What could be a more suitable follow up to yesterdays Vickers Spitfire. The two go together hand-in-hand, or you could say wing-to-wing.


Aircraft Type:
Hawker Hurricane
Mark:
Hurricane Mk
I, Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, Hurricane I/tropical, FB.IIc, IV.
Sea Hurricane Mk I, Ib, II
Primary Role:
Carrier-Borne Fighter
First Flight: 
Prototype 6.11.1936
Manufacturer:
Hawker
Engine:
One Rolls-Royce (Packard) Merlin XX V-engine
Sea hurricane: 1280 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin XII
 Wing Span: 
Length: 
Wingspan : 40 feet (12.20 m)
Length: 31 feet; 4 inches (9.82 m)
Empty Weight: Max.Weight:
Weight: 7,200 lbs combat-loaded (3500 kg)
Speed: 
Ceiling: 
Range:
Max. speed: 340 mph (530 km/h)
Ceiling : 35,000 feet (9500 m)
Rate of climb: 3,150 feet per minute
Range: 468 miles (740 km)
Armament: 
Eight .303 calibre Browning machine guns
Two 500-lb bombs or eight rockets
Crew:
1
Squadrons:
700,727,728,748,760,770,771,772,774,775,776,779,784,787Z,788,794,
803,805,806,877,889
Battle honours:
Battle of Britain
(FAA serving crew), North Africa, Western Desert, Atltantic, Arctic, Malta, Madasgascar, Italy.

Next Week: Messerschmitt BF 109 (Yes, more WW2 stuff)

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