Hawker Hurricane Mk II (c/n 41H/469290, LF363, the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight), static display at 21st Aviatická pouť (Aviation Fair) air show, Pardubice, May 2011.
The Hawker Hurricane was the first, officially approved into service, aeroplane of the new generation of the British fighter aircraft – single-engine monoplanes with retractable landing gear, enclosed cockpit, three-blade variable-pitch propeller and strong armament.
The story of this aircraft began already in 1933, when well-known British aviation engineer Sydney Camm and Major John Buchanan of the Directorate of Technical Development, launched the project of a monoplane fighter based on Hawker Fury. The development went through several concept fighters and finally was concluded with an Interceptor Monoplane, presented to the British Air Ministry in 1934, however without any interest from the authorities.
In the meantime, the Air Ministry issued Specification F.5/34 for the new, single-seat fighter for the Royal Air Force. That request was responded by four aviation manufacturers which submitted their proposals: Bristol Type 146, Martin-Baker M.B.2, Vickers Type 279 and Gloster F.5/34. Although the Air Ministry approved three of them and asked for prototypes, none were ordered for serial production.
Searching for the new British fighter aircraft continued and made Camm to rework his initial project. In January of 1935, mock-up of the new Hawker aeroplane was ready. Although it was proposed to the authorities in response to the aforementioned F.5/34 request, the aircraft was so different that new Specification F.36/34 was made around the design.
In February of 1935, the Air Ministry approved the Hawker Hurricane for prototype stage. On 6th November 1935, the fighter performed its maiden flight, piloted by Hawker chief test pilot, George Bulman.
(the story of Hawker Hurricane development and service will be continued)
The aircraft LF363 featured within our Photo of the Week series is usually considered the last Hurricane to enter service with the RAF. The aeroplane was manufactured in the late 1943, as a cannon-armed Mark IIC variant.
During the World War II, the LF363 was assigned to No. 63, No. 309 (Polish) and No. 26 Squadron of the RAF. In 1957, the aircraft became a part of the RAF Historic Flight, then transferred into the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
In 1991, the aircraft suffered crash landing caused by engine failure. The restoration process lasted seven years and in 1998, the LF363 returned to the skies.
After the restoration, the aircraft was adopted to appear as Mk IIA version, equipped with eight machine guns. Since that time, the Hurricane wore different variants of the RAF colour schemes from the Battle of Britain.
In 2011, when our photo was taken, the fighter was painted as Hurricane YB-W of No. 17 Squadron from Debden (August and September 1940, P/O PO Harold Bird-Wilson). In 2022, the aircraft received a livery of RF-J of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron from Northolt (September 1940).
