A look at the Stable

Hart

Hart K3301

This 24 squadron aircraft, was photographed in the 1930s.

Designed as a light bomber, the prototype J9052 first flew in June 1928 and the first Royal Air Force squadron, number 33 at Eastchurch, took delivery in January 1930. A total of about 460 were built. In the United Kingdom the Hart was replaced by the Hind by 1936 but they continued in service in India until 1939. The gunner also acted as bomb aimer for which duty he would adopt a flat position in the underside of the fuselage.

Photo Flight Magazine. Text Tim Hammond, October 2009.

Hart G-ABMR

This aircraft was built in 1929 with its civil registration as part of the first production batch J-9931 to J-9947. It was kept airworthy by Hawkers for many years and finally in 1972 was painted in the colours of 57 squadron serial J9941 (the first Hart to achieve 1,000 flying hours), fitted with the rear cockpit Lewis gun and presented to the RAF Museum at Hendon where it still is. The photograph shows it at Brooklands and part of the sloping car racing circuit may be seen behind it.

Photo Duncan Simpson. Text Tim Hammond, October 2009. 02

Hind

Photographed in the 1930s, this Hind L7193 was with RAF number 18 Squadron.

Designed as the replacement for the Hart, the Hind first flew on 12 September 1934. The first production aircraft K4636 first flew on 4 September 1935 and the aircraft entered Royal Air Force service with number 21 Squadron at Bircham Newton in December 1935. A total of 528 aircraft were made with the last one first flying in September 1938. The last RAF Hind squadron, number 613, relinquished its aircraft in November 1939. It continued with several other Air Forces and saw active service during the first part of the Second World War. It did not retire from the Afhganistan Air Force until 1957.

Photo Charles E. Brown. Text Tim Hammond, October 2009.

Nimrod

Nimrod Mark II

The airworthy Nimrod Mark II, Serial number K3661, has the Civil Registration G-BURZ. It formerly served with 802 Squadron FAA, on HMS Glorious.

It is owned by the Historic Aircraft Collection. Restoration was started in 1992 and the completed aircraft first flew again on 16 November 2006 at Duxford.

Photo Copyright Military Aircraft. Text Tim Hammond, October 2009.

Nimrod Mark II

Another view of the Nimrod Mark II, serial K3661, at Duxford on 8 September 2007.

Designed as a Fleet fighter, the Nimrod prototype first flew on 14 October 1931 and 92 were built. The Mark I entered Royal Navy service in 1933 with 801, 802 and 803 Royal Naval Air Squadrons. The Mark II with a more powerful Kestrel engine, increased area tail surfaces and an arrestor hook followed in September 1934. The Nimrod was replaced in service by 1939.

Photo and Text Tim Hammond, October 2009.

Osprey

Osprey serial S1681 is seen flying over its base ship HMS Eagle in this photograph taken in the the 1930s.

The Osprey joined the FAA in 1932. Just over 100 were built and it was produced as Marks I, II, III and IV. It had left operational squadrons before 1939 and ended its career in 1944 as a trainer aircraft.

All marks of Osprey could either have a wheeled undercarriage or twin floats which reduced its top speed by about 20 mph and its service ceiling by about 2,000 feet. The Marks I, II and III were powered by a Rolls-Royce Kestrel IIMS engine. The Mark II had a modified float installation. The Mark III has a dinghy stowed in the starboard upper wing. The Mark IV was powered by Mark V Kestrel engine.

Photo The Aeroplane. Text Tim Hammond, October 2009.

Fury

The photo shows a Fury Mark II of 25 squadron photographed in the 1930s, serial number K7280.

The Fury (initially called the Hornet) first flew on at Brooklands in March 1929. The first production Fury first flew from Brooklands on 25 March 1931. The first RAF Fury Mark I squadron was number 43 at Tangmere and the Fury Mark I also equipped numbers 1 and 25 squadrons. 117 Fury Is were ordered by the RAF and a further 33 ordered by overseas air forces. By 1936 the Mark I Fury had been replaced in RAF squadrons by the Mark II.

The Fury Mark II had an engine 20% more powerful than the Fury I and had fairings over the wheels. The prototype was K1935 a converted Fury Mark I. The first production aircraft K7263 first flew on 3 December 1936 and 98 were built. The first RAF Fury Mark II squadron was number 25 at Hawkinge and the Fury Mark II also equipped squadron numbers 41, 43, 73 and 87. The last RAF Fury Mark II squadron was 73 who relinquished their aircraft in July 1937.

Photo The Aeroplane. Text Tim Hammond, October 2009.

Hurricane

Hurricane Mk. I

Hawker Hurricane Mk.I serial R4118 was built by Gloster Aircraft in July or August 1940. It served with 605 and 111 Squadrons and with 59 and 56 Operational Training Units. It was struck off charge in India in October 1944.

R4118 was found in India by Peter Vacher. It was restored to airworthy condition by Tony Ditheridge and his engineers at Hawker Restorations. The photo shows it at Dunsfold in 2005.

The Hurricane prototype K5083 first flew on 6 November 1935 and the first production aircraft L1547 first flew on 12 October 1937. The Hurricane Mark I entered RAF service with 111 squadron at Northolt in December 1937.

Sea Hurricane Mk. Ib

A look at the Shuttleworth collection Sea Hurricane Mark Ib, serial Z7015, Civil Registration G-BKTH.

The Sea Hurricane Mark Ib entered Royal Navy service in the first half of 1941 and differed from the RAF Mark I by being fitted with an arrestor hook and other modifications for naval use. Sea Hurricanes Mark Ia flew from catapults on merchant ships, Marks Ib to IIc from aircraft carriers. The last Sea Hurricane in Royal Navy service was NF700, a Mark IIc with 835 squadron in 1945.

Photo Unknown Origin. Text Tim Hammond, October 2009.

Hurricane Mk. IIc

Up close and personal to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Hurricane Mark IIc, LF363 at Duxford on 5 May 2007.

Following a crash in 1991 caused by engine failure, it was rebuilt by 1998, financed by selling one of the BOBMF Spitfires. Although it is a Mk. IIc, it is painted as a Mk. I with no cannons.

Hurricane Mk. IIc

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BOBMF) Hurricane Mark IIc, PZ865, taxying out at Duxford on 5 May 2007.

This aircraft was the last Hurricane produced of a total of 14,533 of all Marks (12,780 built in England and 1,753 built in Canada). It was completed by Hawkers in May 1944 and never served with an operational squadron.

It was retained by Hawkers and eventually entered RAF service in March 1972 when it was flown by Duncan Simpson to the BOBMF then based at RAF Coltishall.

Hurricane Mk. IV

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IV, serial KZ193. The aircraft was built between February and March 1943 as a Mk. IV.

It was converted to be one of the Mk. V prototypes with a four bladed propeller, a more powerful Merlin engine and a larger radiator.

It was then reconverted to a Mark. IV. It is shown in the photo before it entered RAF service with 164 Squadron based at Warmwell with whom it was flown on anti-shipping sorties over the English Channel using its two 40mm cannon.

Number 6 which was the last Royal Air Force Hurricane squadron, flew the Mark IV and was disbanded in January 1947.

Hurricane Mk. IV

Here we have a rare Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV, which is masquerading as a four cannon Mk.IIC. A crying shame because the aircraft is a genuine 6 Squadron aircraft that was recovered from Palestine. It was restored for Stephen Grey's Fighter Collection by Hawker Restorations. It was sold to Canada. The Hurricanes serial KZ321 is definitely wrong.

Hurricane Mk. XII

This aircraft was a Canadian built Hurricane Mark XII and was on the British Civil Register as G-HURR. In 2006 it was sold to the Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford and fabric re-covered (except the elevators) by Vintage Fabrics. It was then repainted in 402 (Canadian) Squadron colours, as aircraft 'C'.

The photo at the left shows it taxying back after giving a flying display at Duxford on 8 September 2007. The pilot was David Ratcliffe.

A week later it crashed and burned while giving a display at Shoreham, resulting in the death of its pilot, Brian Brown.

Henley

The Henley was designed as a light bomber and the under fuselage bomb bay necessitated the radiator being mounted under the engine. The prototype K5115 first flew on 10 March 1937 but the Air Ministry decided that it would only be used as a target-tug. A total of 200 were produced, L3243 to L3442. The photograph shows the second protype K7554 which became the target-tug protoype designated as Mark III. The Henley entered Royal Air Force service in 1939 including 639 and 696 squadrons and was replaced from summer of 1942.

Tornado

This is P5224 the second prototype which first flew on 5 December 1940. Three more stub exhausts are hidden behind the wing tip.

Developed in parallel with the Typhoon. the Tornado had the X-configuration Rolls-Royce Vulture engine resulting in two sets of exhaust stubs on each side. The prototype P5219 first flew on 6 October 1939. Only four Tornados were built, the three protoypes P5219, P5224, R7936 and the one and only production aircraft HG641. Problems with the engine resulted in the production order of 500 being reduced to 1.

Typhoon

Typhoon Mk. Ib

This has a three bladed propeller and the original framed cockpit with side door. This photo was published in May 1943.

Developed in parallel with the Tornado, the Typhoon had the H-configuration Napier Sabre engine. The Sabre also had teething problems but these were eventually sorted out. The early Typhoons also had structural failure of the rear fuselage and this was found to have been caused by elevator flutter caused by the elevator mass balances breaking off due to fatigue. The Typhoon then became a reliable aircraft.

The prototype Typhoon P5212 first flew on 24 February 1940 and the first production aircraft R7576 first flew on 27 May 1941. The first Typhoons were Marks Ia with twelve 0.303 inch Browning guns but the first to see action were the Marks Ib, armed with four 20 mm cannon, which became the standard production version with later aircraft being fitted with a clear view bubble canopy and a four bladed propeller.

Typhoon Mk. Ib

Unknown serial number displaying the white invasion stripes. This photo was published in August 1943.

A total of 3,330 Typhoons were produced with SW772 the last one being delivered in November 1945. The first Typhoon squadron was number 56 from September 1941 and the last one 175 who relinquished their aircraft in September 1945. The Typhoon was able to carry two 1,000 lb bombs or rocket projectiles with 60 lb warheads.

Typhoon Mk. Ib

This is MN524 built between December 1943 and June 1944. It has a four bladed propeller and the final design of cockpit canopy. This photo was published in July 1944.

Tempest

Tempest Mk. V

This photo is of EJ743, an early standard aircraft.

The Tempest was developed from the Typhoon with a much thinner elliptical plan wing and fuel tanks moved from the wings to the fuselage resulting in it being about two feet longer. The first prototype HM595, a Mark V, first flew on 2 September 1942. JN729, the first of 800 production aircraft first flew on 21 June 1943 and SN355, the last one first flew in August 1945.

Tempest Mk. II

This photo is of MW742.

The Tempest Mark II used the same airframe as the Mark V but with the 24 cylinder liquid cooled H-configuration Napier Sabre replaced by an 18 cylinder radial-configuration Bristol Centaurus engine. The first prototype LA602 first flew on 28 June 1943 and early vibration problems were cured by changing the engine mounting to a multipoint system.

Tempest Mk. II

This is another photo of MW742.

The first production Tempest Mark II, MW374, first flew on 4 October 1944. Total production was 472 aircraft with the last one, PR921 being delivered in 1946.

The first Tempest II squadron was 54 at Chilbolton in in November 1945. The last Tempest II squadron was number 33 who relinquished their aircraft in 1951.

Tempest Mk. V

This photo of JN757 was published in December 1944.

The first Tempest V squadron was number 3 in April 1944 and the last Mark V squadron was TBA. As well as many other targets, the Tempest V was notable for destroying 638 V-1 flying bombs and 20 Me262 jet fighters.

Tempest Mk. V

This photo of what is thought to be a Mark V was published in January 1945.

The final version of the Tempest was the Mark VI which was designed for tropical service and had a more powerful engine than the Tempest V (2340 hp compared with 2180 hp). This necessitated an increased area radiator and a second (subsidiary) oil cooler in the leading edge of the inner starboard wing and wing carburetter air intakes. The protoype HM595 first flew on 9 May 1944 and 142 were built between July 1945 and June 1947 with serial numbers NV997 to NX288. It served with four RAF squadrons in Germany and five in the Middle East. The last Tempest VI squadron relinquished its aircraft in 1949.

Only the Mark V operated during the Second World War and the Marks II and VI after it.

A total of 1,484 Tempests were made; comprised of 800 Mark V, 542 Mark II and 142 Mark VI.

Sea Fury

Sea Fury F10

This photo was published in May 1947. The Sea Fury ( originally the Fury) was developed from the Tempest Mark II but with the wingspan reduced by 2 feet eight inches, with the retracted wing wheels almost touching, the same fuselage length but a different profile with a raised cockpit and a new fin profile.

The first Sea Fury prototype SR661 first flew on 21 February 1945, it had a four bladed propeller and non-folding wings; the second and subsequent aircraft had a five bladed propeller and folding wings. The first production F10 first flew in September 1946. A total of five Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) flew the Sea Fury with the last one relinquishing its aircraft in 1953.

The Sea Fury served during the Korean War and was distinguished by shooting down a Mig-15. A total of more than 725 Sea Furies were produced; 50 F10, 615 FB11 (including 31 for the Royal Australian Navy and 53 for the Royal Canadian Navy) and more for other countries and 60 two-seat T20.

Sea Fury FB11

This is a Hawker Sea Fury FB11, serial WH589. It was when I first saw this aircraft at Southend airport in 1974 that I fell in love with the Sea Fury. The ultimate in Camm's piston engined designs, this particular aircraft was owned by the late Ormond Haydon Ballie. He was an English aristocrat who had just returned from America on an RAF exchange scheme. He flew his own small stable of warbirds from Duxford during the seventies. A highly skilled pilot he lost his life in a Cavalier Mustang on the 09th July 1977 in Germany. The Seafury was hangared in Germany at the time of Ormond's death. It was eventually sold to a German and was destroyed in a landing accident.

Sea Fury FB11

The Royal Navy Historic Aircraft Flight (RNHAF) Sea Fury FB11, serial VR930, at Duxford on 21 May 2006. This aircraft first flew on 23 February 1948. It served with 802 and 801 Squadrons FAA and later with the Fleet Requirements Unit and was (temporarily) retired from Naval Service in January 1963. VR930 returned to Naval flying service in March 2001 with the RNHAF.

Sea Hawk

Sea Hawk FGA6

The Sea Hawk Mark FGA6 WV908 of the Royal Navy Historic Flight

The Sea Hawk was a developed version of the unarmed P1040 research aircraft VP401 which first flew at Boscombe Down on 2 September 1947. The next stage was VP413 the N7/46 aircraft which had four 20 mm cannon, folding wings, and arrestor and catapult equipment.

The first Sea Hawk squadron, number 806, started operating in March 1953. The Sea Hawk squadrons 800, 802, 804, 897 and 899 took part in the Suez operation in 1956. By 1960 the Sea Hawk had left front line squadrons.

Hunter

Hunter P1067

This photo of the first prototype WB188 was published in November 1951. Its first flight was on 20 July of the same year. At this stage neither the ventral airbrake nor the shell link collector fairings nor the outer wing extensions had been fitted.

This aircraft was later modified with reheat to become the only Hunter Mark 3. Painted a bright red it captured the world aircraft speed record at 727 mph in September 1953. It may now be seen at the Tangmere Aviation Museum.

Hunter F1

This photo, published in July 1955, shows WT622, a Mark F1 Hunter of the first production batch (WT555, first flown in May 1963, to WT654), with its airbrake extended. It was aircraft 'G' of 43 Squadron, the first to be equipped with the Hunter, and was painted with their black and white checks. The shell links collection fairings had not yet been fitted.

Hunter F1

This photo, published in January 1956, shows WT687, a Mark F1 Hunter of the first production batch. It was aircraft 'A' of 54 Squadron, the second to be equipped with the Hunter. The shell links collection fairings had not yet been fitted. 43 and 222 Squadron were the only other Hunter F1 Squadrons.

Hunter F58

An ex Swiss Air Force Hunter F58, serial J-4058, at Duxford on 21 May 2006. The starboard shell link collection fairing may be seen between the cockpit and the air intake. Owned by Hawker Hunter Aviation (HHA), this aircraft has the Civil Registration G-HHAD. HHA own 8 airworthy Hunters of which about half are undergoing maintenance.

Harrier

Harrier GR7

The Harrier was developed from the P1127 (the first wing supported flight was by XP831 on 13 February 1961 and the first transition from vertical take-off to horizontal flight was on 13 June 1961) and the Kestrel, the first of which XS688 first flew on 17 March 1964. The Harrier, XV276, first flew on 31 August 1966 and the first production aircraft, XV738, first flew on 28 December 1967.

The first RAF Harrier squadron was number 1 which took delivery in July 1969 and subsequently numbers 3 and 4 squadrons were also equipped. 77 GR1 and 13 T2 (XW174 first flew on 24 April 1969) were ordered for the RAF and it was also adopted by the United States Marine Corps where it was named the AV-8A. Number 3 squadron ceased flying the Harrier in March 2006.

McDonnell-Douglas subsequently developed the Harrier into the AV-8B with a larger span carbon fibre wing with leading edge root extensions, a higher cockpit and other changes. This aircraft was modified to become the the GR5 and T10 (new builds) and 62 GR5 and 13 T10 were ordered for the RAF and the first entered service in July 1987. The GR5 aircraft were modified to become the GR7 and the current GR9.

In the UK the Harrier serves with Joint Force Harrier which is composed of RAF squadrons 1 and 4 and RN squadrons 800 and 801. All four squadrons can be based either ashore at RAF Cottesmore or afloat on HMS Illustrious and/or HMS Ark Royal. RAF squadron number 20(R), based at RAF Wittering, is the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit.

Sea Harrier

Sea Harrier FAS2

The Photo shows a Sea Harrier FA2 of 801 Naval Air Squadron at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2005.

The Sea Harrier was in Royal Navy service from April 1980 to March 2006, its function is now executed by Harrier GR9s from Joint Force Harrier. The Sea Harrier continues in service with the Indian Navy who may buy some ex RN aircraft.

The Sea Harrier was developed from the Harrier with a raised cockpit, an Air Interception Radar, air-air and air-surface missiles and changes of the construction alloys. The Sea Harrier was built in three versions:
The FRS1 for the Royal Navy, 57 built between 1978 and 1988,
The FA2 for the Royal Navy, 18 built and 34 converted from FRS1. The first FA2 was delivered in April 1993 and the last new built FA2 was delivered in January 1999,
The FRS51 for the Indian Navy, 23 built and delivered in 1983.