Yes. Lovely. On closer examination, the open rectangular hatch on the side of the cowling in the foreground seems to be missing on the one in the background. Are they different Marks?
It's actually an anti-glare panel to prevent the flames from the exhausts scuppering the pilot's night vision. Yes, Hurricanes were night fighters as well. Spitfires were tried but their narrow undercarriage and worse forward view meant too many were written off landing in the dark.
Both Hurris are Canadian Mk XIIs. The a/c in the foreground is G-HURR, sadly lost with her pilot last September at Shoreham. The other is probably G-HURI.
Its not a hatch, its a plate to prevent the exhaust flames blinding the pilot at night. These plates were fitted after production to night fighter variants. Both are Hurricane IIa or IIbs depending on the number of guns... 8 for the IIa/ 12 for the IIb.
6 comments:
Yes. Lovely.
On closer examination, the open rectangular hatch on the side of the cowling in the foreground seems to be missing on the one in the background. Are they different Marks?
It's actually an anti-glare panel to prevent the flames from the exhausts scuppering the pilot's night vision. Yes, Hurricanes were night fighters as well. Spitfires were tried but their narrow undercarriage and worse forward view meant too many were written off landing in the dark.
Both Hurris are Canadian Mk XIIs. The a/c in the foreground is G-HURR, sadly lost with her pilot last September at Shoreham. The other is probably G-HURI.
Its not a hatch, its a plate to prevent the exhaust flames blinding the pilot at night. These plates were fitted after production to night fighter variants. Both are Hurricane IIa or IIbs depending on the number of guns... 8 for the IIa/ 12 for the IIb.
gallimaufry; I bow to your superior knowledge. MkXIIs they are.
andrew; I doff my cap to acknowledge a peer - they are painted to represent Mk IIs.
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