What was better Spitfire or Hurricane?
The Spitfire was fast, sleek and very agile – but it was outnumbered two to one by another fighter, one often ignored in the popular retelling of the battle. It was the , and most of the RAF squadrons flying over London that day were equipped with it.
Was the Hawker Hurricane any good?
We think of the Hawker Hurricane as the workhorse of the Battle of Britain and, while generally acknowledged to be not as fast or glamourous as the Spitfire, most pilots found it to be a highly efficient gun platform that could take a lot of punishment. Soviet pilot, Vitaly Klimenko was brutal in his assessment.
What was the Hawker Hurricane famous for?
The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-seater monoplane fighter aircraft designed by Chief Designer Sydney Camm at Hawker Aircraft in the early 1930’s. It saw exemplary service in World War II and accounted for over 60% of the air victories in the Battle of Britain.
Could the Hawker Hurricane carry bombs?
The Hurricane Mk IIC introduced a 4 x 20mm Hispano cannon arrangement which fit two cannons to each wing, providing a hefty punch of firepower against air-, land-, and sea-based targets. The mark arrived during 1941 and was also able to carry 2 x 500lb bombs under the wings (one bomb to a wing).
How many planes did the Hawker Hurricane shot down?
In September 1940 alone he shot down at least 17 enemy planes. The reason the Hurricane was popular is simple – it was a great killing machine. With four guns grouped together on each wing, the Hurricane made a much more stable gun platform than the Spitfire when shooting at enemy planes.
How many Hawker Hurricanes are left?
The Hawker Hurricane played a vital role in the Battle of Britain. There are only 12 airworthy Hurricanes left in the world, and the BBMF proudly operates two of these historically important aircraft: Hurricane LF363 (Mk IIC) – believed to be the last Hurricane to enter service with the RAF.
What was the fastest Hawker Hurricane?
Sea Hurricane Mk IIC The Merlin XX engine on the Sea Hurricane generated 1460 hp at 6,250 feet (1,900 m) and 1435 hp at 11,000 feet (3,400 m). Top speed was 322 mph (518 km/h) at 13,500 ft (4,100 m) and 342 mph (550 km/h) at 22,000 ft (6,700 m).