
19th Feb 2004

HR de HAvilland spinner for the HR Hurricane MkI.

This file replaces the P.3dz which is included in the HR Hurricane zips.

On November 6th, 1935, K5083 took to the air for the first time at Brooklands, and in February 1936, further flight testing was carried out at RAF Martlesham Heath, and on June 3rd, the Air Ministry ordered 600 examples of the new Hurricane. (the name was sanctioned on June 27) The first production Hurricane flew on October 12, 1937; 15 months later 111 Squadron RAF based at Northolt became the first squadron equipped with the new fighter. The Hurricane Mk I was armed with eight Browning/Colt 7.7 mm(.303 in.) machine guns to meet the Air Ministry specification. Later, the planes were given 3-blade deHavilland variable pitch propellors to replace the Watts 2-blade wooden props, thus greatly improving it's rate of climb and service ceiling. Later, they got Rotol constant-speed props; all further marks had these except the Canadian-built marks; they had American Hamilton-Standard.

Over and out!

Col. Gibbon