Tank buster mk1 serial numbers#

In flight the large, thick wing meant that the fighter proved to be a stable gun platform. During its operational life the Hurricane was able to operate from all sorts of adverse airfield surfaces with ease. Because of this wide, stable platform the Hurricane was an easier aircraft to land, with less fear of nose-overs or 'ground-loops' than its RAF Fighter Command counterpart the Supermarine Spitfire. The aircraft handling qualities during take-off and landings were excellent due to a wide-track undercarriage with relatively wide low-pressure tyres. Hurricane Mk.I R4118 is the only Hurricane from the 1940 Battle of Britain still flying The main coolant radiator was housed in a fairing under the rear wing centre-section the oil cooler was also incorporated into the main radiator.

Tank buster mk1 serial numbers#

Early 'K' serialled Mk Is were powered by the 1,029 hp (768 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin C engine from the 'L' serial numbers the later Merlin II of 1,030 hp (768 kW) was installed. The 7 gal (32 l) oil tank was built into the forward, port centre section. This was the main fuel feed to the engine. Fuel capacity was 97 Imperial gal (441 l) in two fuel tanks, each of 34.5 gal (157 l) in the wing centre-section, between the spars the fuel was pumped from these into a reserve gravity-feed tank which held an additional 28 gal (127 l) in the forward fuselage, just ahead of the cockpit. The standard GM2 reflector gunsight was introduced in mid-1939, although many Hurricanes retained the 'bead'. They used 'ring and bead' gunsights, with the ring being mounted above the instrument panel and the bead mounted on a post above the engine cowling. The tailwheel was now fixed.Įarly Hurricanes lacked armour or self-sealing tanks. To this end the lower part of the rudder was extended and a distinctive ventral 'keel' was added to the rear fuselage.

Initially the tailwheel was designed to be retractable early on it was discovered that the Hurricane needed a larger rudder area to improve the control characteristics during a spin. These early aircraft featured fabric-covered wings, and a wooden, two-bladed, fixed- pitch propeller. The first Mk I production machines were ready fairly quickly, with deliveries starting in December 1937.

Mk I with original two-bladed propeller, in France circa 1939