The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-engine all-metal fighter aircraft with canvas panels from World War II. Operating on all fronts during World War II, the Hawker Hurricane earned its reputation as one of the best and most widely used aircraft of its time, both as a fighter and as an attack aircraft. However, the aircraft's most significant contribution to the British victory in the Battle of Britain in 1940 was undoubtedly its contribution to the British victory. Built by Sidney Camm for the Ministry of Defence, the aircraft was to become the mainstay of the British air force. The prototype aircraft, powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin Mk.II, first flew on 6 November 1935, piloted by George Bulman. The tests went well and it was quickly decided to order 600 aircraft, the first of which entered service with No. 111 Squadron of the Royal Air Force in December 1937. When Great Britain declared war on Nazi Germany on 3 September 1939, the Royal Air Force had 19 squadrons of Hurricanes ready to fight, which began their military career with operations in France and Norway. Several versions of this highly successful aircraft were produced during the war. The first production version was the Mk.I with the Merlin III engine. From 1940, the Mk.II versions with the new 1280 hp Merlin XX engine began to be supplied to units. It was this version, as the first variant of the Hurricane, that performed mainly assault and combat missions. Its best variant was the Hurricane Mk.IID, which was used min. in the North African Campaign of 1942. The third version was the Hurricane Mk.IV with the new Merlin 24/27 engine with a capacity of 1620 hp. It served as an assault vehicle, armed with bombs, unguided rockets and Vickers S guns until 1944. A naval variant (Sea Hurricane) was also produced, which served on aircraft carriers and specially adapted merchant ships (Sea Hurricane Mk.IA). Technical data (Mk.IIC version): length: 9.84 m, wingspan: 12.19 m, height: 4 m, maximum speed: 547 km/h, rate of climb: 14.1 m/s, maximum range: 965 km, maximum ceiling 10,970 m. Armament: fixed - 4 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannons, suspension - up to 460 kg of bombs.
