Hawker Hurricane

The first studies about the "Hurricane" were proposed in 1933 by Sidney Camm, developer from Hawker, with the objective of proposing a new plane in substitution of old biplanes "Fury". The monoplane, with a retractile landing gear, was powered by a Merlin engine (1039 CV). The flying test were so satisfactory that in June 1936 RAF ordered 600 of these planes. The first series exemplars flew in October 1937 and two months later they commenced the delivering to 111° Squadron. Even if the RAF was planning to reinforce its forces ( also Gloster built 1000 "Hurricanes" in '39-'40) some of these plane were exportated in other 6 countries. When the "Battle of Britain" began , 32 Squadrons had "Hurricanes" to fly: it was this plane to sustain fiercely the initial attacks. In the late 1941 this plane was surpassed by the best English and German fighters, but the adoption of a new wing made possible the transformation in an attack plane, armed with 20mm cannons (Mk.IIC), with 40mm cannons, bombs and rockets (Mk.IV). The "Hurricane" was also built in a naval version (Sea Hurricane) and in Jugoslavia and Canada with license; as many as 3000 exemplars were given to URSS. The last "Hurricanes" flew with RAF until 1947


	The Internet Museum of World War II Aviation \| home Great Britain \| Blackburn Roc \| Firebrand \| Defiant \| Beaufighter \| Mosquito \| Fairey Firefly \| Fairey Fulmar \| Gladiator \| Gloster Meteor \| Hawker Hurricane \| Hawker Tempest \| Hawker Typhoon \| Spitfire Hawker Hurricane The first studies about the "Hurricane" were proposed in 1933 by Sidney Camm, developer from Hawker, with the objective of proposing a new plane in substitution of old biplanes "Fury". The monoplane, with a retractile landing gear, was powered by a Merlin engine (1039 CV). The flying test were so satisfactory that in June 1936 RAF ordered 600 of these planes. The first series exemplars flew in October 1937 and two months later they commenced the delivering to 111° Squadron. Even if the RAF was planning to reinforce its forces ( also Gloster built 1000 "Hurricanes" in '39-'40) some of these plane were exportated in other 6 countries. When the "Battle of Britain" began , 32 Squadrons had "Hurricanes" to fly: it was this plane to sustain fiercely the initial attacks. In the late 1941 this plane was surpassed by the best English and German fighters, but the adoption of a new wing made possible the transformation in an attack plane, armed with 20mm cannons (Mk.IIC), with 40mm cannons, bombs and rockets (Mk.IV). The "Hurricane" was also built in a naval version (Sea Hurricane) and in Jugoslavia and Canada with license; as many as 3000 exemplars were given to URSS. The last "Hurricanes" flew with RAF until 1947