Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Hawker Hurricane>HA8654

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

James A.F. MacLachlan was a Squadron Leader assigned to the No. 1 Squadron at RAF Tangmere. In 1941 MacLachlan was severely wounded and as a result had an arm amputated but 7 months later returned to flying. He is credited with 16 victories over German and Italian aircraft of which 7 were night victories, 2 over Malta and 5 over France. In May 1942 MacLachlan became a night fighter ACE with the 5 victories over France while partnered with Karel Kuttelwascher. These victories earned MacLachlan the DSO.

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)