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Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Hawker Hurricane>HA8602

Hawker Hurricane Mk.I P2961, Flying Officer W.L. McKnight, No 242 Sqn., RAF Coltishall, Dec 1940
HA8602
General Background
The Hawker Hurricane was the first British single-engine fighter and the first single wing aircraft with retractable landing gear as well as an enclosed cockpit and 8 machine guns. The Hurricane went into operational service in December 1937 with the RAF 111 Squadron. The Hurricane is usually over looked as a major player in the BoB because of the Spitfire but 80% of the 1,792 German aircraft shot down were because of the Hurricane. There were 14,533 Hurricanes produced in all variants.
The Aircraft
F/O William L. "Willie" McKnight was born in Alberta Canada and joined the No. 242 All Canadian Squadron. He was attached to the 607 & 615 Squadrons for the Battle of France. During the BoB he was again with the 242 Squadron as wingman for Douglas Bader. By the end of 1940, P/O McKnight had claimed 17 kills, plus 2 shared and three unconfirmed victories. January 12, 1941 Canada's first Ace in WWII never returned from the Calais area. Willie McKnight received the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) and Bar.
Specifications :
Manufacturer : Hawker Industries
Country : UK
First Year of Service : 1937
Production: 14,583
Crew: 1
Dimensions
Length : 31.4 ft (9.57 m)
Wingspan: 39.99 ft (12.19 m)
Height: 13.12 ft (4.0 m)
Weight:
Empty: 4,982 lb (2,260 kg)
Maximum Takeoff: 6,446 lb (2,924 kg)
Performance:
Power plant: 1 x Rolls-Royce Merlin III 12-cylinder Liquid-cooled Producing 1,030 hp
2 Bladed Propeller
Later Production Power plant: 3,164 x Merlin III producing 1,029 hp with a Three-Blade Propeller
Maximum Speed : 318 mph (511 kmh / 276 kts)
Maximum Range : 460 miles (740 km)
Service Ceiling : 35,991 ft (10,970 m)
Rate of Climb : 2,520 ft/min (768 m/min)
Armament :
Early Production : Hard points – 2
Machine Guns – 8 x 7.7 mm Colt-Browning in Wings
Later production : Machine Guns – 8 or 12 x 7.7 mm Colt-Browning in Wings
Hispano Canons – 4 x 20 mm in the Wings
Optional: Bombs Under-Wings
2 x 250 lb
or
500 lb
8 x Unguided Rockets Under-Wings
2 x 40 mm Canons Under-Wings