Similar
Hawker Hurricane prototype 1935
Summary
K5083, the prototype Hawker Hurricane. Construction of the first prototype, K5083, began in August 1935 incorporating the PV-12 Merlin engine. The completed sections of the aircraft were taken to Brooklands, where Hawker had an assembly shed, and re-assembled on 23 October 1935. Ground testing and taxi trials took place over the following two weeks, and on 6 November 1935, the prototype took to the air for the first time, at the hands of Hawker's chief test pilot, Flight Lieutenant P.W.S. Bulman.
The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-seat fighter aircraft designed and built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. in the 1930s. It was used extensively by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War, particularly during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the Hurricane had a top speed of around 340 mph. It was armed with eight .303 machine guns and could carry up to 2,000 lbs of bombs or rockets. The Hurricane played a vital role in the Battle of Britain, where it was responsible for shooting down more enemy aircraft than any other British fighter. It was also used in other theatres of war, including North Africa and the Pacific. In all, over 14,000 Hurricanes were built, making it one of the most successful fighter aircraft of all time. Today, only a handful of Hurricanes remain in flying condition, but they are still remembered as a symbol of British bravery and determination during the Second World War.
Tags
Date
Source
Copyright info
