De Havilland Vampire

The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served with front line RAF squadrons until 1955 and continued in use as a trainer until 1966. The Vampire also served with many air forces worldwide, setting aviation firsts and records.




Originally named the "Spider Crab," the aircraft was entirely a de Havilland project, exploiting the company's extensive experience in building with moulded plywood for aircraft construction. Many of the basic design features were first used in their Mosquito bomber. It had conventional straight mid-wings and a single jet engine placed in an egg-shaped, aluminium-skinned fuselage, exhausting in a straight line.




Geoffrey de Havilland Jr, the de Havilland chief test pilot and son of the company's founder, test flew prototype LZ548/G on its maiden flight 20 September 1943 from Hatfield. The flight took place only six months after the Meteor's maiden flight. Although eagerly taken into service by the RAF, it was still being developed at war's end, and never saw combat in the Second World War.

Almost 3,300 Vampires were built, a quarter of them under licence in other countries. The Vampire design was also developed into the de Havilland Venom fighter-bomber as well as naval Sea Vampire variants.


General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 30 ft 9 in (9.37 m)
• Wingspan: 38 ft (11.58 m)
• Height: 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
• Wing area: 262 ft² (24.34 m²)
• Empty weight: 7,283 lb (3,304 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 12,390 lb (5,620 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Goblin 3 centrifugal turbojet, 3,350 lbf (14.90 kN)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 548 mph (882 km/h)
• Range: 1,220 mi (1,960 km)
• Service ceiling: 42,800 ft (13,045 m)
• Rate of climb: 4,800 ft/min (24.4 m/s)

Armament

• 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Hispano Mk.V cannons
• 8 × 3-inch "60 lb" rockets
• 2 × 500 lb (225 kg) bombs

** De Havilland Vampire - Warbird Fare

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Gloster Meteor

The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. Designed by George Carter, it first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Gloster Meteor was not an aerodynamically advanced aircraft but the Gloster design team succeeded in producing an effective jet fighter that served the RAF and other air forces for decades.




The first British jet-powered aircraft, the single-engined Gloster E28/39 prototype, had its maiden flight on 15 May 1941. After several improvement on prototypes ,the first 20 aircraft were delivered to the Royal Air Force on 1 June 1944, one was also sent to the U.S. in exchange for a Bell YP-59A Airacomet for comparative evaluation. No. 616 Squadron RAF was the first to receive operational Meteors.




The Meteor was initially used to counter the V-1 flying bomb threat. 616 Squadron Meteors saw action for the first time on 27 July 1944, when three aircraft were active over Kent. These were the Meteor's (and the Royal Air Force's) first operational jet combat missions. After some problems, especially with jamming guns, the first two V1 "kills" were made on 4 August. By war's end, Meteors accounted for 14 flying bombs.

Production of the Meteor continued until 1954 with almost 3,900 made, mainly the F.8 variant. As the Meteor was progressively relegated to secondary duties in later years, target tug, drone and specialized test vehicles were added to the diverse roles that this first-generation jet fighter took on.


General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 44 ft 7 in (13.59 m)
• Wingspan: 37 ft 2 in (11.32 m)
• Height: 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
• Wing area: 350 ft² (32.52 m²)
• Empty weight: 10,684 lb (4,846 kg)
• Loaded weight: 15,700 lb (7,121 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Derwent 8 turbojets, 3,500 lbf (15.6 kN) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 600 mph (522 knots, 965 km/h, Mach 0.82) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
• Range: 600 mi (522 nmi, 965 km)
• Service ceiling: 43,000 ft (13,100 m)
• Rate of climb: 7,000 ft/min (35.6 m/s)
• Wing loading: 44.9 lb/ft² (149 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.45
• Time to altitude: 5.0 min to 30,000 ft (9,145 m)

Armament

• 4 × 20 mm British Hispano cannons
• Provision for up to sixteen "60lb" 3 in rockets under outer wings

** Gloster Meteor - Warbird Fare

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Fairey Firefly

The Fairey Firefly was a British Second World War-era carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA). It was superior in performance and firepower to its predecessor, the Fulmar, but only entered operational service towards the end of the war. Designed around the contemporary FAA concept of a two-seat fleet reconnaissance/fighter, the pilot and navigator/weapons officer were housed in separate stations. The design proved to be sturdy, long-ranging and docile in carrier operations, although the limitations of a single powerplant in a heavy airframe reduced overall performance.




The Fairey Firefly served in the Second World War as a fleet fighter but in postwar service, although it was superseded by more modern jet aircraft, the Firefly was adapted to other roles, including strike operations and anti-submarine warfare, remaining a mainstay of the FAA until the mid-1950s.

The Firefly was designed by H.E. Chaplin at Fairey Aviation; in June 1940, the Admiralty ordered 200 aircraft "off the drawing board" with the first three to be the prototypes. The prototype of the Firefly flew on 22 December 1941.

The primary variant of the aircraft used during the Second World War was the Mk I, which was used in all theatres of operation. In March 1943, the first Firefly Mk Is were delivered but they did not enter operational service until July 1944 when they equipped 1770 Naval Air Squadron aboard HMS Indefatigable. The first operations were in Europe where Fireflies carried out armed reconnaissance flights and anti-shipping strikes along the Norwegian coast. Fireflies also provided air cover during strikes on the German battleship Tirpitz in 1944.




Throughout its operational career, the Firefly took on increasingly more demanding roles from fighter to anti-submarine warfare stationed mainly with the British Pacific Fleet in the Far East and Pacific theatres. Fireflies carried out attacks on oil refineries and airfields and gained renown when they became the first British-designed and -built aircraft to overfly Tokyo.


General characteristics

• Crew: Two (pilot & observer)
• Length: 37 ft 7¼ in (11.46 m)
• Wingspan: 44 ft 6 in (13.57 m)
• Height: 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
• Wing area: 328 ft² (30.5 m²)
• Empty weight: 9,750 lb (4,432 kg)
• Loaded weight: 14,020 lb (6,373 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Griffon IIB liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,730 hp (1,290 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 316 mph (275 kn, 509 km/h) at 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
• Range: 1,300 mi (1,130 nmi, 2,090 km)
• Service ceiling: 28,000 ft (8,530 m)
• Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 5 min 45 sec

Armament

• 4 × 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannons
• 8 × RP-3 "60 lb" rockets
• 2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bomb

** Fairey Firefly - Warbird Fare

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Handley Page Halifax

The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing. The Halifax was also operated by squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Free French Air Force, and Free Polish Air Force, and after the Second World War by the Royal Egyptian Air Force, the Armée de l'Air and the Royal Pakistan Air Force.

The Halifax was originally intended to be used to bomb the Soviet Caucasus oil fields. The raids were to be carried out from Syrian and Lebanese territories. However, the first Halifax entered service with No. 35 Squadron RAF at RAF Linton-on-Ouse in November 1940, while Syria and Lebanon were already ruled by Vichy. Therefore its first operational raid was against Le Havre on the night of 11–12 March 1941.

In service with RAF Bomber Command, Halifaxes flew 82,773 operations, dropped 224,207 tons (203,397 tonnes) of bombs and lost 1,833 aircraft. In addition to bombing missions, the Halifax served as a glider tug, electronic warfare aircraft for No. 100 Group RAF and special operations such as parachuting agents and arms into occupied Europe. Halifaxes were also operated by RAF Coastal Command for anti submarine warfare, reconnaissance and meteorological roles. Postwar, Halifaxes remained in service with the RAF Coastal Command and RAF Transport Command, Royal Egyptian Air Force and the Armée de l'Air until early 1952. The Pakistan Air Force which inherited the planes from the RAF continued to use the type until 1961.

A number of former RAF Halifax C.8s were sold from 1945 and used as freighters by a number of mainly British airlines. In 1948, the air freight market was in decline but 41 civil aircraft were used in the Berlin Air Lift operating a total of 4,653 freight sorties and 3,509 sorties carrying bulk diesel fuel. Nine aircraft were lost during the airlift but as the aircraft returned to England most civil Halifaxes were scrapped. The last civilian operated Halifaxes were withdrawn from service in late 1952.

General characteristics

• Crew: 7
• Length: 71 ft 7 in (21.82 m)
• Wingspan: 104 ft 2 (31.75m)
• Height: 20 ft 9 in (6.32 m)
• Wing area: 1,190 ft² (110.6 m²)
• Loaded weight: 54,400 lb (24,675 kg)
• Powerplant: × Bristol Hercules XVI radial engine, 1,615 hp (1,205 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 282 mph (454 km/h) at 13,500 ft (4,115 m)
• Range: 1,860 mi (3,000 km) combat
• Service ceiling: 24,000 ft (7,315 m)
• Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (3.8 m/s)
• Wing loading: 45.7 lb/ft² (223.1 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.12 hp/lb (195 W/kg)

Armament

• 8 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns, 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine gun
• 13,000 lb (5,897 kg) of bombs

** Handley Page Halifax - Warbird Fare

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Short Stirling

The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941. The Stirling had a relatively brief operational career as a bomber, being relegated to second line duties from 1943 onwards when other four-engined RAF bombers, specifically the Handley Page Halifax and Avro Lancaster, took over its role.

The first three Stirlings flew a mission on the night of 10/11 February 1941 against fuel storage tanks at Vlaardingen, near Rotterdam, and from spring of 1942 the bomber started to be used in greater numbers. From May 1943, air raids on Germany started with over a hundred Stirlings at once.

Despite the "disappointing performance" at maximum altitude, Stirling pilots were delighted to discover that, due to the thick wing, they could out-turn the Ju 88 and Bf 110 nightfighters they faced. Its handling was much better than that of the Halifax and some preferred it to the Lancaster.

By December 1943 Stirlings were being withdrawn from frontline service as bombers, increasingly being used for deploying mines outside German ports, electronic countermeasures and dropping spies deep behind enemy lines at night. Also at that time, there arose a need for powerful aircraft to tow heavy transport gliders such as the GAL Hamilcar and Airspeed Horsa; the Stirling fitted this role admirably. In late 1943, 143 Mk.III bombers were rebuilt to the new Mk.IV series specification (without nose and dorsal turrets), for towing gliders and dropping paratroops, as well as 461 new Mk.IVs being produced. They were used in the Battle of Normandy and Operation Market Garden.

Stirlings were also used on Operation Glimmer on D-Day June 1944 for the precision-laying of patterns of "window" ("chaff") to produce radar images of a decoy invasion fleet. From late 1944, 160 of the special transport variant Mk V were built, which had the tail turret removed and a new opening nose added, most of these being completed after the war.

In service with Bomber Command Stirlings flew 14,500 operations, dropping 27,000 tons of bombs, losing 582 in action with 119 written off.

General characteristics

• Crew: 7
• Length: 87 ft 3 in (26.6 m)
• Wingspan: 99 ft 1 in (30.2 m)
• Height: 28 ft 10 in (8.8 m)
• Wing area: 1,322 ft² (122.8 m²)
• Empty weight: 44,000 lb (19,950 kg)
• Loaded weight: 59,400 lb (26,940 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 70,000 lb (31,750 kg)
• owerplant: 4× Bristol Hercules II radial engine, 1,375 hp (1,030 kW) each
• Propellers: Three-bladed metal fully feathering 13 ft 6 in diameter propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 255 mph (410 km/h) at 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
• Cruise speed: 200 mph
• Range: 2,330 mi (3,750 km)
• Service ceiling: 16,500 ft (5,030 m)
• Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4 m/s)
• Wing loading: 44.9 lb/ft² (219.4 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.093 hp/lb (0.153 kW/kg)

Armament

• 8 x 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns
• 14,000 lb (6,340 kg) of bombs

** Short Stirling - Warbird Fare

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Fairey Barracuda

The Fairey Barracuda was a British carrier-borne torpedo- and dive bomber used during the Second World War, the first of its type to be fabricated entirely from metal. It was introduced to the Fleet Air Arm as a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Albacore biplanes. It is notable for its role in attacking the German battleship Tirpitz and known for its unusual appearance when the undercarriage was extended and wings folded.

The Barracuda first saw action with 810 Squadron aboard HMS Illustrious off the coast of Norway in July 1943 before deploying to the Mediterranean to support the Salerno landings. The following year they entered service in the Pacific Theatre. All the aircraft were withdrawn between March and July 1945.

Barracudas were used as dive bombers and played a part in a major attack on the German battleship Tirpitz. On 3 April 1944, 42 aircraft from British carriers HMS Victorious and Furious scored 14 direct hits on Tirpitz with 1,600 lb (730 kg) and 500 lb (230 kg) bombs at the cost of one bomber. The attack disabled Tirpitz for over two months.

From April 1944, Barracudas of No 827 Squadron aboard Illustrious started operations against Japanese forces, taking part in raids against Sabang in Sumatra. The Barracuda's performance was reduced by the high temperatures of the Pacific, with its combat radius being reduced by as much as 30%, and the torpedo bomber squadrons of the fleet carriers of the British Pacific Fleet were re-equipped with Grumman Avengers

Barracudas were used to test several innovations including RATOG rockets for takeoff and a braking propeller which slowed the aircraft by reversing the blade pitch. The Barracuda continued in Fleet Air Arm service until the mid 1950s, by which time they were all replaced by Avengers.

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 39 ft 9 in (12.12 m)
• Wingspan: 49 ft 2 in (14.99 m)
• Height: 15 ft 2 in (4.62 m)
• Wing area: 405 ft² (37.62 m²)
• Empty weight: 9,350 lb (4,250 kg)
• Loaded weight: 13,200 lb (6,000 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 14,100 lb (6,409 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Merlin 32 liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,640 hp (1,225 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 228 mph (198 kn, 367 km/h) at 1,750 ft (533 m)
• Cruise speed: 195 mph (170 kn, 314 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
• Range: 686 mi (597 nmi, 1,104 km) with 1,620 lb (736 kg) torpedo
• Service ceiling: 16,600 ft (5,080 m)
• Wing loading: 32.6 lb/ft² (159 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.12 hp/lb (0.20 kW/kg)
• Climb to 5,000 ft (1,524 m): 6 min

Armament

• 2 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine guns in rear cockpit
• 1× 1,620 lb (735 kg) aerial torpedo or 4× 450 lb (205 kg) depth charges or 6× 250 lb (110 kg) bombs

** Fairey Barracuda - Warbird Fare

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Bristol Beaufighter

The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design. The name Beaufighter is a portmanteau of "Beaufort" and "fighter".

Unlike the Beaufort, the Beaufighter had a long career and served in almost all theatres of war in the Second World War, first as a night fighter, then as a fighter bomber and eventually replacing the Beaufort as a torpedo bomber. A variant was built in Australia by the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) and was known in Australia as the DAP Beaufighter.

1941 was the development of the Beaufighter Mk.IC long-range heavy fighter. This new variant entered service in May 1941 with a detachment from No. 252 Squadron operating from Malta. The aircraft proved so effective in the Mediterranean against shipping, aircraft and ground targets that Coastal Command became the major user of the Beaufighter, replacing the now obsolete Beaufort and Blenheim.


General characteristics

• Crew: 2: pilot, observer
• Length: 41 ft 4 in (12.6 m)
• Wingspan: 57 ft 10 in (17.65 m)
• Height: 15 ft 10 in (4.84 m)
• Wing area: 503 ft²[15] (46,73 m²)
• Empty weight: 15,592 lb (7,072 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 25,400 lb (11,521 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Bristol Hercules 14-cylinder radial engines, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 320 mph (280 kn, 515 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
• Range: 1,750 mi (1,520 nmi, 2,816 km)
• Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,795 m) without torpedo
• Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.2 m/s) without torpedo

Armament

• 4 × 20 mm Hispano Mk III cannon
• 4 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns
• 2 × .303 in (7.7 mm) machine gun (outer port wing)
• 8 × RP-3 "60 lb" (27 kg) rockets or 2× 1,000 lb bombs

** Bristol Beaufighter - Warbird Fare

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Bristol Blenheim

The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter. It was one of the first British aircraft to have all-metal stressed-skin construction, to utilise retractable landing gear, flaps, powered gun turret and variable pitch propellers. A Canadian-built variant named the Bolingbroke was used as an anti-submarine and training aircraft.

The Blenheim Mk I outshone most biplane fighters in the late 1930s but stood little chance against the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 during daylight operations, though it proved successful as a night fighter. The Mark IV variant was equally unsuccessful, suffering major losses in the early stages of the war.

On the day that war was declared on Germany a Blenheim piloted by Flying Officer Andrew McPherson was the first British aircraft to cross the German coast and the following morning 15 Blenheims from three squadrons set off on one of the first bombing missions. With the rapid advances in technology which had taken place in the late 1930s, by then the aircraft was already obsolescent. The Blenheim was regarded as a pleasant aircraft to fly, although it did have some characteristics which could catch even experienced pilots by surprise. It had become heavier as extra service equipment was installed; much of this was found to be needed through operational experience. This, coupled with the rapid performance increases of fighters, had eclipsed the Blenheim's speed advantage.


General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 42 ft 7 in (12.98 m)
• Wingspan: 56 ft 4 in (17.17 m)
• Height: 9 ft 10 in (3.0 m)
• Wing area: 469 ft² (43.6 m²)
• Empty weight: 9,790 lb (4,450 kg)
• Loaded weight: 14,400 lb (6,545 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Bristol Mercury XV radial engine, 920 hp (690 kW) each
• Propellers: Three-bladed Hamilton Standard propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 266 mph (231 kn, 428 km/h)
• Range: 1,460 mi (1,270 nmi, 2,351 km)
• Service ceiling: 27,260 ft (8,310 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min[citation needed] (7.6 m/s)
• Wing loading: 30.7 lb/ft² (150 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.13 hp/lb (.21 kW/kg)

Armament

• 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine gun
• 2 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning guns
• 2 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning guns in dorsal turret
• 4 × 250 lb (113 kg) bombs or
• 2 × 500 lb (227 kg) bombs internally and 8× 40 lb (18 kg) bombs

** Bristol Blenheim - Warbird Fare

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Bristol Beaufort

The Bristol Beaufort was a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber. Beauforts first saw service with the Royal Air Force's Coastal Command and then the Fleet Air Arm from 1940, until they were withdrawn from operational service in the European theatre in 1942. RAF Beauforts flying from Britain operated as torpedo bombers, conventional bombers and mine layers and were then used as training aircraft until being declared obsolete in 1945.

Beauforts also saw considerable action in the Mediterranean theatre; Beaufort squadrons based in Egypt and on Malta helped put an end to Axis shipping supplying Rommel's Deutsches Afrikakorps in North Africa. Beauforts were most widely used, until the end of the Second World War, by the Royal Australian Air Force in the Pacific theatre. All but six of the RAAF's Beauforts were manufactured under licence in Australia.

Although designed as a torpedo-bomber, the Beaufort more often flew as a level-bomber. The Beaufort also flew more hours in training than on operational missions and more were lost through accidents and mechanical failures than were lost to enemy fire. However, the Beaufort did spawn a long-range heavy fighter variant called the Beaufighter, which proved to be very successful and many Beaufort units eventually converted to the Beaufighter.

General characteristics

• Crew: 4
• Length: 44 ft 2 in (13.46 m)
• Wingspan: 57 ft 10 in (17.63 m)
• Height: 14 ft 3 in (4.34 m)
• Wing area: 503 ft² (46.73 m²)
• Empty weight: 13,107 lb (5,945 kg)
• Loaded weight: 21,230 lb (9,629 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Bristol Taurus 14-Cylinder sleeve valve radial engine, 1,130 hp (843 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 271.5 mph (236 kn, 420 km/h) at 6,500 ft (1,981 m).[N 12]
• Cruise speed: 255 mph at 6,500 ft (221 kn, 410 km/h) at 6,500 ft (1,981 m)[N 13]
• Range: 1,600 mi (1,400 nmi, 2,600 km)
• Service ceiling: 16,500 ft (5,030 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (6.096 m/s)
• Wing loading: 42.2 lb/ft² (206 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.106 hp/lb (0.175 kW/kg)

Armament

• 3× .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers GO machine guns
• 6x .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers GO
• 1× 1,605 lb (728 kg) 18 in (457 mm) Mk XII torpedo or
• 2,000 lb (907 kg) of bombs or mines.

** Bristol Beaufort - Warbird Fare

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Hawker Sea Fury

The Hawker Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft developed for the Royal Navy by Hawker during the Second World War. The last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, it was also one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built.

The Hawker Fury was an evolutionary successor to the successful Hawker Typhoon and Tempest fighters and fighter-bombers of World War II. The Fury was designed in 1942 by Sydney Camm, the famous Hawker designer, to meet the Royal Air Force’s requirement for a lightweight Tempest Mk.II replacement. Developed as the "Tempest Light Fighter", it used modified Tempest semi-elliptical outer wing panels, bolted and riveted together on the fuselage centerline. The fuselage itself was similar to the Tempest, but fully monocoque with a higher cockpit for better visibility.

In 1943, the design was modified to meet a Royal Navy request (N.7/43) for a carrier-based fighter. Boulton-Paul Aircraft were to make the conversion while Hawker continued work on the Air Force design. The first Sea Fury prototype, SR661, first flew at Langley, Berks, on 21 February 1945, powered by a Centaurus XII engine. This prototype had a "stinger"-type tailhook for arrested carrier landings, but lacked folding wings for storage. SR666, the second prototype, which flew on 12 October 1945, was powered by a Centaurus XV turning a new, five-bladed Rotol propeller and was built with folding wings. Specification N.7/43 was modified to N.22/43, now representing an order for 200 aircraft. Of these, 100 were to be built at Boulton-Paul.



The Royal Navy’s earlier Supermarine Seafire had never been completely suitable for carrier use, having a poor view for landing and a narrow-track undercarriage that made landings and takeoffs "tricky". Consequently, the Sea Fury F X (later F 10) replaced it on most carriers. Sea Furies were issued to Nos. 736, 738, 759 and 778 Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm.

The F 10 was followed by the Sea Fury FB 11 fighter-bomber variant, which eventually reached a production total of 650 aircraft. The Sea Fury remained the Fleet Air Arm’s primary fighter-bomber until 1953 and the introduction of the Hawker Sea Hawk and Supermarine Attacker.


General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 34 ft 8 in (10.6 m)
• Wingspan: 38 ft 4¾ in (11.7 m)
• Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.9 m)
• Wing area: 280 ft² (26 m²)
• Empty weight: 9,240 lb (4,190 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 12,500 lb (5,670 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Bristol Centaurus XVIIC 18-cylinder twin-row radial engine, 2,480 hp (1,850 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 460 mph (740 km/h) at 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
• Cruise speed: 390 mph (625 km/h)
• Range: 700 mi (1,127 km) with internal fuel; 1,040 mi (1,675 km) with two drop tanks
• Service ceiling: 35,800 ft (10,900 m)
• Rate of climb: 30,000 ft (9,200 m) in 10.8 minutes
• Wing loading: 44.6 lb/ft² (161.2 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.198 hp/lb (441 W/kg)

Armament

• 4 × 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk V cannon
• 12× 3 in (76.2 mm) rockets or
• 2,000 lb (907 kg) of bombs

** Hawker Sea Fury - Warbird Fare

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Handley Page Hampden

The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a British twin-engine medium bomber of the Royal Air Force serving in the Second World War. With the Whitley and Wellington, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and the first 1,000-plane raid on Cologne. The newest of the three medium bombers, the Hampden, known as the "Flying Suitcase" because of its cramped crew conditions, after operating mainly at night, it was retired from Bomber Command service in late 1942.

A total of 1,430 Hampdens were built: 500 by Handley Page, 770 by English Electric at Samlesbury in Lancashire; and in 1940–41, 160 in Canada by the Canadian Associated Aircraft consortium. A total of 226 Hampdens were in service with eight squadrons by the start of the Second World War.

Despite its speed and agility, in operational use the Hampden was no match for Luftwaffe fighters. Consequently, its career as a day bomber was brief, but Hampdens continued to operate at night on bombing raids over Germany, and mine-laying (code-named "gardening") in the North Sea and the French Atlantic ports.

After being withdrawn from Bomber Command in 1942, it operated with Coastal Command through 1943 as a long-range torpedo bomber and as a maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

General characteristics

• Crew: 4
• Length: 53 ft 7 in (16.33 m)
• Wingspan: 69 ft 2 in (21.08 m)
• Height: 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m)
• Wing area: 688 ft² (63.9 m²)
• Empty weight: 11,780 lb (5,344 kg)
• Loaded weight: 18,756 lb (8,508 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Bristol Pegasus XVIII 9-cylinder radial engine, 980 hp (730 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 265 mph (410 km/h) at 15,500 ft (4,724 m)
• Range: 1,095 mi (1,762 km)
• Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,790 m)
• Rate of climb: 980 ft/min (300 m/min)
• Wing loading: 27.3 lb/ft² (133 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.104 hp/lb (0.172 kW/kg)

Armament

• 4-6 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine guns: one flexible and one fixed in the nose
• 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) bombs or 1 × 18 in (457 mm) torpedo or mines

** Handley Page Hampden - Warbird Fare

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Vickers Wellington

The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a bomber by the larger four-engine "heavies" such as the Avro Lancaster. The Wellington continued to serve throughout the war in other duties, particularly as an anti-submarine aircraft. It was the only British bomber to be produced for the entire duration of the war. The Wellington was popularly known as the Wimpy by service personnel, after J. Wellington Wimpy from the Popeye cartoons and a Wellington "B for Bertie" had a starring role in the 1942 Oscar-nominated Powell and Pressburger film One of Our Aircraft Is Missing. The Wellington was one of two bombers named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, the other being the Vickers Wellesley.

The Wellington used a geodesic construction method, which had been devised by Barnes Wallis inspired by his work on airships, and had previously been used to build the single-engine Wellesley light bomber. The fuselage was built up from 1650 elements, consisting of aluminium alloy (duralumin) W-beams that were formed into a large framework. The geodesic structure also gave a very strong but light structure for its large size, which gave the Wellington a load and range to power ratio advantage over similar aircraft, without sacrificing robustness or protective devices such as armour plate or self-sealing fuel tanks.

The Wellington was initially out-numbered by its twin-engine contemporaries, the Handley Page Hampden and the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, but would ultimately outlast them in productive service. The number of Wellingtons built totalled 11,461 of all versions, the last of which rolled out on 13 October 1945.

General characteristics

• Crew: six
• Length: 64 ft 7 in (19.69 m)
• Wingspan: 86 ft 2 in (26.27 m)
• Height: 17 ft 5 in (5.31 m)
• Wing area: 840 ft² (78.1 m²)
• Empty weight: 18,556 lb (8,435 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 28,500 lb (12,955 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Bristol Pegasus Mark XVIII radial engines, 1,050 hp (783 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 235 mph (378 km/h) at 15,500 ft (4,730 m)
• Range: 2,550 mi (2,217 nmi, 4,106 km)
• Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,490 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,120 ft/min (5.7 m/s)
• Wing loading: 34 lb/ft² (168 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.08 hp/lb (0.13 kW/kg)

Armament

• 6-8× .303 Browning machine guns:
• 4,500 lb (2,041 kg) bombs

** Vickers Wellington - Warbird Fare

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Armstrong Whitworth

The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War while the others were the Vickers Wellington and the Handley Page Hampden. It took part in the first RAF bombing raid on German territory, and remained an integral part of the early British bomber offensive until the introduction of four-engined "heavies". Its front line service included performing maritime reconnaissance duties with Coastal Command, while also being employed in the second line roles of glider-tug, trainer and transport aircraft.

Designed by John Lloyd, the Chief Designer of Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft to meet Air Ministry Specification issued in 1934 for a heavy night bomber. The AW.38 design was a development of the Armstrong Whitworth AW.23 bomber-transport design that had lost out to the Bristol Bombay for specification C.26/31 partly due to its Armstrong Siddeley Tiger engines.

As Lloyd was unfamiliar with the use of flaps on a large heavy monoplane, they were initially omitted. To compensate, the mid-set wings were set at a high angle of incidence (8.5°) to confer good takeoff and landing performance. Although flaps were included late in the design stage, the wing remained unaltered. As a result, the Whitley flew with a pronounced nose-down attitude, resulting in considerable drag. This "nose down" attitude was also seen in the design of the Armstrong Whitworth Ensign pre-war airliner.

The Mk.III introduced hydraulically actuated doors which greatly improved bombing accuracy. To aim bombs, the bombardier ("Bomb Aimer" in RAF terminology) opened a hatch in the nose of the aircraft which extended the bombsight out of the fuselage, but to everyone's comfort, the Mk IV replaced this hatch with a slightly extended transparency.

The Whitley first entered service with No. 10 Squadron in March 1937, replacing Handley Page Heyford biplanes, and by the outbreak of the Second World War, seven squadrons were operational with the Whitley. The majority were flying Whitley IIIs or IVs as the Whitley V had only just been introduced.

With Bomber Command, Whitleys flew 8,996 operations, dropped 9,845 tons of bombs with 269 aircraft lost in action. The Whitley was retired from all front line service in late 1942 but it continued to operate as a transport for troops and freight, as well as for paratroop training and towing gliders.


General characteristics

• Crew: 5
• Length: 70 ft 6 in (21.49 m)
• Wingspan: 84 ft (25.60 m)
• Height: 15 ft (4.57 m)
• Wing area: 1,137 ft² (106 m²)
• Empty weight: 19,300 lb (8,768 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 33,500 lb (15,196 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Merlin X liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,145 hp (855 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 200 kn (230 mph, 370 km/h) at 16,400 ft (5,000 m)
• Range: 1,430 nmi (1,650 mi, 2,650 km)
• Ferry range: 2,100 nmi (2,400 mi, 3,900 km)
• Service ceiling: 26,000 ft (7,900 m)
• Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)
• Max wing loading: 29.5 lb/ft² (143 kg/m²)
• Minimum power/mass: 0.684 hp/lb (112 W/kg)

Armament

• 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine gun in nose turret
• 4 × .303 in Browning machine guns in tail turret
• 12 × 250 lb (113 kg) bombs and
• 2 × 500 lb (227 kg) bombs or
• 1 × 2,000 lb (907 kg) bomb could be carried
  

** Armstrong Whitworth - Warbird Fare

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Avro Lancaster

The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force (RAF). It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within RAF Bomber Command.

The "Lanc", as it was affectionately known, became the most famous and most successful of the Second World War night bombers, "delivering 608,612 tons of bombs in 156,000 sorties." Although the Lancaster was primarily a night bomber, it excelled in many other roles including daylight precision bombing, and gained worldwide renown as the "Dam Buster" used in the 1943 Operation Chastise raids on Germany's Ruhr Valley dams.

The origins of the Lancaster stem from a twin-engined bomber design submitted to meet Specification P.13/36, which was for a new generation of twin-engined medium bombers for "worldwide use", the engine specified as the Rolls-Royce Vulture. The resulting aircraft was the Manchester, which, although a capable aircraft, was troubled by the unreliability of the Vulture engine. Only 200 Manchesters were built and they were withdrawn from service in 1942.

General characteristics

• Crew: 7:
• Length: 69 ft 5 in (21.18 m)
• Wingspan: 102 ft (31.09 m)
• Height: 19 ft 7 in (5.97 m)
• Wing area: 1,300 ft² (120 m²)
• Empty weight: 36,828 lb (16,705 kg)
• Loaded weight: 63,000 lb (29,000 kg)
• Powerplant: 4× Rolls-Royce Merlin XX V12 engines, 1,280 hp (954 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 240 kn (280 mph, 450 km/h) at 15,000 ft (5,600 m)
• Range: 2,700 nmi (3,000 mi, 4,600 km) with minimal bomb load
• Service ceiling: 23,500 ft (8,160 m)
• Wing loading: 48 lb/ft² (240 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.082 hp/lb (130 W/kg)

Armament

• 8× 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns in three turrets, with variations
• 14,000 lb (6,300kg) or 22,000 lb Grand Slam with modifications to bomb bay.

** Avro Lancaster - Warbird Fare

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De Havilland Mosquito

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British combat aircraft that excelled in versatility during the Second World War. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder" or "The Timber Terror" as the bulk of the aircraft was made of laminated plywood. It saw service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and many other air forces in the European theatre, the Pacific theatre of Operations and the Mediterranean Theatre, as well as during the postwar period.

Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito was adapted to many other roles during the air war, including: low to medium altitude daytime tactical bomber, high altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike, and fast photo reconnaissance aircraft carrying out aerial reconnaissance. It was even used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a transport. It was also the basis for a single-seat heavy fighter, the de Havilland Hornet.

Upon the Air Ministry's decision to enter the Mosquito into production in 1941, it was the fastest operational aircraft in the world. Entering widespread service in 1942, the Mosquito supported RAF strategic night fighter defence forces in the United Kingdom from Luftwaffe raids, most notably defeating the German aerial offensive Operation Steinbock in 1944. Offensively, the Mosquito units also conducted night time fighter sweeps in indirect and direct protection of RAF Bomber Command's bomber fleets to reduce RAF bomber losses in 1944 and 1945. The Mosquito increased German night fighter losses to such an extent the Germans were said to have awarded two victories for shooting one down. As a bomber it took part in "special raids", such as pinpoint attacks on prisoner-of-war camp, Gestapo or German intelligence and security force bases as well as tactical strikes in support of the British Army in the Normandy Campaign. Some Mosquitos also saw action in RAF Coastal Command during the Battle of the Atlantic, attacking Kriegsmarine U-Boat and transport ship concentrations, particularly in the Bay of Biscay offensive in 1943 in which significant numbers of U-Boats were sunk or damaged.

General Characteristics Fighter Specifications

• Crew: 2: pilot, navigator/radar operator
• Length: 41 ft 2 in (13.57 m)
• Wingspan: 54 ft 2 in (16.52 m)
• Height: 17 ft 5 in (5.3 m)
• Wing area: 454 ft² (42.18 m²)
• Empty weight: 13,356 lb (6,058 kg)
• Loaded weight: 17,700 lb (8,028 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 18,649 lb (8,549 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Merlin 21/21 or 23/23 (left/right) liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,480 hp (21 & 23) (1,103 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 318 kn (366 mph, 610 km/h) at 21,400 ft (8,500 m)
• Range: 782 nmi (900 mi, 1,500 km) with 410 gal (1,864 litre) fuel load at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
• Service ceiling: 29,000 ft (8,839 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,740 ft/min (8.8 m/s)
• Wing loading: 39.9 lb/ft² (195 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.189 hp/lb (311 W/kg)

Armament

• 4 × 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk II cannon (fuselage)
• 4 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns (nose)

Avionics

• AI Mk IV or Mk V radar (NF variants)

General Characteristics Bomber Specifications

• Crew: 2: pilot, bombardier/navigator
• Length: 44 ft 6 in (13.57 m)
• Wingspan: 54 ft 2 in (16.52 m)
• Height: 17 ft 5 in (5.3 m)
• Wing area: 454 ft² (42.18 m²)
• Empty weight: 14,300 lb (6,490 kg)
• Loaded weight: 18,100 lb (8,210 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 25,000 lb (11,000 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Merlin 76/77 (left/right) liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,710 hp (1,280 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 361 kn (415 mph, 668 km/h) at 28,000 ft (8,500 m)
• Range: 1,300 nmi (1,500 mi, 2,400 km) with full weapons load
• Service ceiling: 37,000 ft (11,000 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,850 ft/min (14.5 m/s)
• Wing loading: 39.9 lb/ft² (195 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.189 hp/lb (311 W/kg)

Armament

• 4,000 lb (1 800 kg) Bombs

Avionics

• GEE radio-navigation

** De Havilland Mosquito - Warbird Fare

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Hawker Tempest

The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war. During development of the Typhoon the design team, under the leadership of Sydney Camm, were already planning design improvements, this process resulting in the Hawker P. 1012 (or Typhoon II).

Although the Typhoon was basically a good design, Camm and his design team were disappointed with the wing which proved to be too thick in its cross section; this created problems with the airflow and inhibited the performance of the aircraft, especially at higher altitudes. In March 1940 a few engineers had been assigned to investigate the new low drag laminar flow wing that NACA in the United States had developed and which had been used in the new North American P-51 Mustang. The new laminar flow wing adopted for the Tempest series had a maximum thickness to chord ratio of 14.5% at the root tapering to 10% at the tip. By comparison the Typhoon's wing, using a NACA 4 digit series wing section, was substantially thicker - 19.5% (root) to 12% (tip). The maximum thickness of the Tempest wing was set further back at 37.5% of the chord versus 30% for the Typhoon's wing.

The wingspan was originally greater than that of the Typhoon at 43 ft (13.1 m), but the wingtips were later "clipped" and the wing became shorter; 41 ft (12.5 m) versus 41 ft 7 in (12.7 m). The wing planform was changed to an elliptical shape to accommodate the 800 rounds of ammunition for the four 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano cannons, which were moved back further into the wing. The new elliptical wing had greater area than the Typhoon's.



The thinner wing also displaced fuel tanks that had been fitted into the leading edge of the Typhoon's wing. This greatly reduced fuel capacity but Hawker engineers added a new 21 in (53 cm) bay ahead of the cockpit accommodating a 76 gal (345 l) fuel tank, giving a maximum of 360 gal (1,636 l) and an operational radius of 500 mi (805 km) Another important feature of the new wing for the Tempest I was Camm's proposal that radiators for the new Napier Sabre IV engine were to be fitted into the leading edge of the wing inboard of the undercarriage. This eliminated the distinctive "chin" radiator associated with the Typhoon and improved aerodynamics.

A further improvement of the Tempest wing over that of the Typhoon was the exceptional, flush riveted surface finish, essential on a high performance laminar flow airfoil. Fortunately for the pilots the new wing and airfoil, and the four-bladed propeller unit, eliminated the high frequency vibrations that had plagued the Typhoon.

The redesigned main undercarriage legs were longer and had a wider track (16 ft/5 m) to improve stability at the high landing speed of 110 mph (180 km/h), and to allow tip clearance for a new four-blade, 14 ft (4 m) diameter propeller. The main undercarriage units were designed to incorporate a system of trunnions which shortened the legs as they retracted. The main wheels also needed new thin tyres in order to fit within the wing. Finally, the retractable tailwheel was fully enclosed by small doors.

Camm and the Hawker design team placed a high priority on making their aircraft easily accessible to both air and ground crews; to this end the forward fuselage and cockpit areas of the earlier Hurricane and the Tempest and Typhoon families were covered by large removable panels providing access to as many components as possible, including flight controls and engine accessories. Both upper wingroots incorporated panels of non-slip coating. For the pilot a retractable foot stirrup under the starboard root trailing edge was linked to a pair of handholds which were covered by spring loaded flaps. Through a system of linkages, when the canopy was open the stirrup was lowered and the flaps opened, providing easy access to the cockpit. As the canopy was closed the stirrup was raised into the fuselage and the flaps snapped shut.



General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 33 ft 8 in (10.26 m)
• Wingspan: 41 ft 0 in (12.49 m)
• Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m (tail down))
• Wing area: 302 ft² (28 m²)
• Empty weight: 9,250 lb (4,195 kg)
• Loaded weight: 11,400 lb (5,176 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 13,640 lb (6,190 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Napier Sabre IIA or IIB or IIC liquid-cooled H-24 sleeve-valve engine:, 2,180 hp (1,625 kW) Sabre IIA
  
• Propellers: Four-bladed Rotol or de Havilland propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 432 mph (695 km/h) Sabre IIA at 18,400 ft (5,608 m), Sabre IIB 435 mph at 19,000 ft (700 km/h at 5,791 m)
• Range: 740 mi (1,190 km)
• 1,530 mi (2,462 km) with 90 gal (409 l) drop tanks
• Service ceiling: 36,500 ft (11,125 m)
• Rate of climb: 4,700 ft/min (23.9 m/s)
• Wing loading: 37.75 lb/ft² (184.86 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.21 hp/lb (0.31 kW/kg)

Armament

• 4 × 20 mm (.79 in) Mark II Hispano cannons, 200 rpg
• 2 × 500 lb (227 kg) or 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs
• 8 × 3 in (76.2 mm) RP-3 rockets
• 2 × 45 gal (205 l) or 2 × 90 gal (409 l) drop tanks.

** Hawker Tempest - Warbird Fare

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Hawker Typhoon

The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied this requirement. Other external events in 1940 prolonged the gestation of the Typhoon.

Nicknamed the Tiffy in RAF slang, the Typhoon's service introduction was also plagued with problems, and for several months the aircraft faced a doubtful future. However, in 1941 the Luftwaffe brought the formidable Focke-Wulf Fw 190 into service. As the only fighter in the RAF inventory capable of catching the Fw 190 at low altitudes, the Typhoon secured a new role as a low-altitude interceptor. In addition, the Typhoon won the support of pilots such as Roland Beamont. Through their dedication the Typhoon established itself in roles such as night-time intruder and a long-range fighter. From late 1942 the Typhoon was equipped with bombs; from late 1943 ground attack rockets were added to the Typhoon's armoury. Using these two weapons, the Typhoon became one of the Second World War's most successful ground-attack aircraft.



Even before the new Hurricane was rolling off the production lines in March 1937, Sydney Camm had moved on to designing its replacement. This was to be a large fighter designed around the large and more powerful 24 cylinder Napier Sabre engine. The work proved useful when Hawker received Specification F.18/37 from the Air Ministry in January 1938 which asked for a fighter based on either the Sabre or the Rolls-Royce Vulture engine. Both engines used 24 cylinders and were designed to be able to deliver over 2,000 hp (1,491 kW); the difference between the two was primarily in the arrangement of the cylinders — an H-block in the Sabre and an X-block in the Vulture.


General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 31 ft 11.5 in (9.73 m)
• Wingspan: 41 ft 7 in (12.67 m)
• Height: 15 ft 4 in (4.66 m)
• Wing area: 279 ft² (29.6 m²)
• Empty weight: 8,840 lb (4,010 kg)
• Loaded weight: 11,400 lb (5,170 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 13,250 lb (6,010 kg)
• Powerplant: 3 or 4-blade de Havilland or Rotol propeller× Napier Sabre IIA, IIB or IIC liquid-cooled H-24 piston engine, 2,180, 2,200 or 2,260 hp (1,626, 1,640 or 1,685 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 412 mph with Sabre IIB & 4-bladed propeller (663 km/h) at 19,000 ft (5,485 m)
• Stall speed: 88 mph (142 km/h) IAS with flaps up
• Range: 510 mi (821 km)
• Service ceiling: 35,200 ft (10,729 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,740 ft/min (13.59 m/s)
• Wing loading: 45.8 lb/ft² (223.5 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.20 hp/lb (0.33 kW/kg)

Armament

• 4 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon
• 8 × RP-3 unguided air-to-ground rockets.
• 2 × 500 lb (227 kg) or 2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs

** Hawker Typhoon - Warbird Fare

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Hawker Hurricane

The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Although largely overshadowed by the Supermarine Spitfire, the aircraft became renowned during the Battle of Britain, accounting for 60% of the RAF's air victories in the battle, and served in all the major theatres of the Second World War.

The 1930s design evolved through several versions and adaptations, resulting in a series of aircraft which acted as interceptor-fighters, fighter-bombers (also called "Hurribombers"), and ground support aircraft. Further versions known as the Sea Hurricane had modifications which enabled operation from ships. Some were converted as catapult-launched convoy escorts, known as "Hurricats". More than 14,000 Hurricanes were built by the end of 1944 (including about 1,200 converted to Sea Hurricanes and some 1,400 built in Canada by the Canada Car and Foundry).

The maiden flight of the first production aircraft, powered by a Merlin II engine, took place on 12 October 1937. The first four aircraft to enter service with the RAF joined No. 111 Squadron RAF at RAF Northolt the following December. By the outbreak of the Second World War, nearly 500 Hurricanes had been produced, and had equipped 18 squadrons




During the eleven days of fighting in France and over Dunkirk on 10—21 May 1940, Hurricane pilots claimed 499 kills and 123 probables. Contemporary German records, examined post-war, attribute 299 Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed and 65 seriously damaged by RAF fighters.

The Battle of Britain officially lasted from 10 July until 31 October 1940, but the heaviest fighting took place between 8 August and 21 September. Both the Supermarine Spitfire and the Hurricane are renowned for their part in defending Britain against the Luftwaffe — generally the Spitfire would intercept the German fighters, leaving Hurricanes to concentrate on the bombers, but despite the undoubted abilities of the "thoroughbred" Spitfire, it was the "workhorse" Hurricane that scored the highest number of RAF victories during this period, accounting for 1,593 of the 2,739 claimed.


General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.84 m)
• Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m)
• Height: 13 ft 1½ in (4.0 m)
• Wing area: 257.5 ft² (23.92 m²)
• Empty weight: 5,745 lb (2,605 kg)
• Loaded weight: 7,670 lb (3,480 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 8,710 lb (3,950 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Merlin XX liquid-cooled V-12, 1,185 hp (883 kW) at 21,000 ft (6,400 m)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 340 mph (547 km/h) at 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
• Range: 600 mi (965 km)
• Service ceiling: 36,000 ft (10,970 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,780 ft/min (14.1 m/s)
• Wing loading: 29.8 lb/ft² (121.9 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (0.25 kW/kg)

Armament

• 4 × 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk II cannons
• 2 × 250 or 500 lb (110 or 230 kg) bombs

** Hawker Hurricane - Warbird Fare

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Supermarine Spitfire

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used into the 1950s both as a front line fighter and in secondary roles. It was produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft and was the only Allied fighter in production throughout the war.

The Spitfire was designed as a short-range high-performance interceptor aircraft by R. J. Mitchell, chief designer at Supermarine Aviation Works (since 1928 a subsidiary of Vickers-Armstrongs). Mitchell continued to refine the design until his death from cancer in 1937, whereupon his colleague Joseph Smith became chief designer. The Spitfire's elliptical wing had a thin cross-section, allowing a higher top speed than the Hawker Hurricane and several contemporary fighters. Speed was seen as essential to carry out the mission of home defence against enemy bombers.

During the Battle of Britain there was a public perception that the Spitfire was the RAF fighter of the battle, in fact the more numerous Hurricane actually shouldered a greater proportion of the burden against the Luftwaffe.




After the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire became the backbone of RAF Fighter Command and saw action in the European, Mediterranean, Pacific and the South-East Asian theatres. Much loved by its pilots, the Spitfire served in several roles, including interceptor, photo-reconnaissance, fighter-bomber, carrier-based fighter, and trainer. It was built in many different variants, using several wing configurations. Although the original airframe was designed to be powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine producing 1,030hp (768 kW), it was adaptable enough to use increasingly more powerful Merlin and the later Rolls-Royce Griffon engines; the latter was eventually able to produce 2,035 hp (1,520 kW).

Spitfire Mk Is K9789 entered service with 19 Squadron at RAF Duxford on 4 August 1938. The Spitfire achieved legendary status during the Battle of Britain, a reputation aided by the famous "Spitfire Fund" organised and run by Lord Beaverbrook the Minister of Aircraft Production. Although the key aim of Fighter Command was to stop the Luftwaffe's bombers, in practice the tactic was to use Spitfires to counter German escort fighters, particularly the Bf 109s, while the Hurricane squadrons attacked the bombers.


General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
• Height: 11 ft 5 in (3.86 m)
• Wing area: 242.1 ft² (22.48 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 2209.4(tip)
• Empty weight: 5,090 lb (2,309 kg)
• Loaded weight: 6,622 lb (3,000 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 6,770 lb (3,071 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 supercharged V12 engine, 1,470 hp (1,096 kW) at 9,250 ft (2,820 m)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 378 mph, (330 kn, 605 km/h)
• Combat radius: 410 nmi (470 mi, 760 km)
• Ferry range: 991 nmi (1,140 mi, 1,840 km)
• Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (11,300 m)
• Rate of climb: 3,240 ft/min (13.5 m/s)
• Wing loading: 27.35 lb/ft² (133.5 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.22 hp/lb (0.36 kW/kg)

Armament

• 2 × 20 mm (0.787-in) Hispano Mk II cannon, 60 rpg
• 4 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns, 350 rpg
• 2 × 250 lb (113 kg) bombs

** Supermarine Spitfire - Warbird Fare

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