Hawker Hurricane

Hawker Hurricane – Cleared to Display at Headcorn International Airshow

About the aircraft

The Hawker Hurricane was one of the principal fighter aircraft of the Royal Air Force during the early years of the Second World War. While often overshadowed by the Spitfire in popular memory, the Hurricane bore the brunt of the fighting during the Battle of Britain, accounting for a significant proportion of RAF victories in 1940.

Rugged, dependable, and highly effective, the Hurricane was ideally suited to the intense air combat conditions of the period and remains one of the most historically important British fighters ever built.

Service history: this airframe

This aircraft was built in 1940 as a Hurricane Mk.I and flew with No. 253 Squadron during the Battle of Britain.

Later in her career, she was converted to a Hurricane Mk.IIa and re-serialled DR348. By the end of 1941, the aircraft had been dispatched to Russia for service with the Soviet Air Force.

Recovered from a crash site in Russia in 1990, the Hurricane was subsequently restored by Hawker Restorations and made her first post-restoration flight in 2017.

Markings: 253 Squadron

The aircraft is now based at Old Warden and operated by Bygone Aviation, flying today in her authentic 253 Squadron markings, representing her Battle of Britain-era RAF service.

For visitors comparing types in the display, see our Aircraft Line-Up.

See it at Headcorn

The Hawker Hurricane is part of this year’s programme at Headcorn International Airshow, offering visitors the opportunity to see a genuine Battle of Britain-era fighter returned to the skies.