Tag: hawker restorations

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World’s Only Dual Control, Two Seat Hawker Hurricane Offered For Sale

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

1944 Hawker Hurricane IIB G-HHII (S/N R20023), touted as “the world’s only dual control two seat Hawker Hurricane” has hit the market.

The aircraft was manufactured by the Canadian Car & Foundry Company in 1942 and served with the RCAF until 1944. It then passed through a succession of owners, including Tony Ditheridge of Hawker Restorations, who restored it to a fighter-bomber configuration in the markings of BE505 of 174 (Mauritius) Squadron. The machine was acquired by the Hangar 11 Collection in 2007 and performed its first post-restoration flight in 2009. After being offered for sale, the machine once again joined the Hawker Restorations family and was chosen for conversion to a two-seat Hurricane. The listing states: Continue reading World’s Only Dual Control, Two Seat Hawker Hurricane Offered For Sale

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Hawker Hurricane V7497 Performs First Flight in Nearly 78 Years [Video]

Hawker Hurricane V7497 (G-HRLI) has performed its first flight since being shot down by Bf 109s over Kent, England nearly 78 years ago.

The aircraft was manufactured by Hawker Aircraft, Ltd in mid-1940 and issued to 501 Squadron at the height of the Battle of Britain. It was only a few weeks old when it was shot down on September 28, 1940 – the pilot, Everett Bryan Rogers, escaping by parachute. After identification and the recovery of key components, the decision was made to restore the aircraft to airworthy condition “as a tribute to all those that stood firm during the Battle of Britain.”

The Merlin was rebuilt by Eye Tech Engineering, while the airframe was restored by the experts at Hawker Restorations along with its sister company, AJD Engineering. The process included the use of original drawings to scratch build new wings, which were fitted with reproduction .303 Browning machine guns complete with “all the adjustment mechanisms fitted internally as per the original aircraft.”

The machine performed its first post-restoration flight from Elmset and will eventually be based at Duxford as a permanent home. Click below to check out a video of the test.

Continue reading Hawker Hurricane V7497 Performs First Flight in Nearly 78 Years [Video]

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Hurricane V7497 Returns to Life 78 Years After Being Shot Down [Video]

Yesterday, Hawker Hurricane Mk 1 V7497 (G-HRLI) performed the first test of its original Merlin III engine, nearly 78 years after it was downed by Bf 109s over Sutton in Kent, England.

The aircraft was manufactured by Hawker Aircraft, Ltd in mid-1940 and issued to 501 Squadron at the height of the Battle of Britain. It was only a few weeks old when it was shot down on September 28, 1940 – the pilot, Everett Bryan Rogers, escaping by parachute. After identification and the recovery of key components, the decision was made to restore the aircraft to airworthy condition “as a tribute to all those that stood firm during the Battle of Britain.”

The Merlin was rebuilt by Eye Tech Engineering, while the airframe is being restored by the experts at Hawker Restorations along with its sister company, AJD Engineering. The process included the use of original drawings to scratch build new wings, which will be fitted with reproduction .303 Browning machine guns complete with “all the adjustment mechanisms fitted internally as per the original aircraft.”

Click below to check out a video of yesterday’s test.

Continue reading Hurricane V7497 Returns to Life 78 Years After Being Shot Down [Video]

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A Two-Seat Hawker Hurricane is on the Horizon

Hawker Hurricane IIB G-HHII will reportedly be converted into a two-seater by UK-based Hawker Restorations, Ltd.

The aircraft was manufactured by the Canadian Car & Foundry Company in 1942 and served with the RCAF until 1944. It then passed through a succession of owners, including Tony Ditheridge of Hawker Restorations, who restored it to a fighter-bomber configuration in the markings of BE505 of 174 (Mauritius) Squadron. The machine was acquired by the Hangar 11 Collection in 2007 and performed its first post-restoration flight in 2009. After being offered for sale, the machine once again joined the Hawker Restorations family and performed a short flight from North Weald to its new home at Elmsett on January 19.

Warbird Lovers has reported that the modification to a two-seat configuration will take roughly a year, with the second seat being positioned behind the pilot’s seat with an elongated cockpit and canopy. It is said that the machine will retain its fighter-bomber appearance.

Future plans for the machine have not yet been announced. It is also unclear whether the conversion of G-HHII is related to the Hawker Restoration’s recently announced opportunity to own the “only two-seater Hurricane in the world.”

(via Warbird Lovers and Hawker Restorations, Ltd. Photo: Paul Nelhams via Wikimedia Commons)