Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Hawker Hurricane>HA8651

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

Hurricane IIC PZ865 was the last of 14,533 Hurricanes to be built and was given the inscription “Last of the Many” painted on both sides. The aircraft was kept by Hawker and later painted dark blue with gold lettering registered as G-AMAU. In 1972 the aircraft was given to the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby and painted as JX-E “Night Reaper”. In 2010 it was once again overhauled and flies as 1944 HW840 / EG-S that was piloted by Canadian Flt J. Whalen DFC, SEA Command.

Specifications :

Crew:	1
Dimensions
Length :	32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
Wingspan:	40 ft 0 in (12.19 m)
Height:	13 ft 1.5 in (4.0 m)
Weight:
Empty:	5,745 lb (2,605 kg)
Loaded:	7,670 lb (3,480 kg)
Maximum Takeoff:	8,710 lb (3,950 kg)
Performance:
Power plant:	1 X rolls-Royce Merlin XX liquid-cooled V-12, 1,185 hp (883 kW) @ 21,000 ft (6,400m)
Maximum Speed :	340 mph (547 km/h) @ 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
Maximum Range :	600 mi (965 km)
Service Ceiling :	36,000 ft (10,970 m)
Rate of Climb :	2,780 ft/min (14.1 m/s)
Armament :
Gun:	4 X 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk II Cannons
Bombs:	2 X 250 or 500 lb (110 or 230 kg)