ROYAL AIR FORCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 7 June 1938, Page 12

ROYAL AIR FORCE

FIGHTER PLANES FASTEST IN THE WORLD 330 MILES AN HOUR LONDON, 11th May. The fastest fighter aeroplane yet in service in any air force in the world was removed recently from the Air Ministry’s semi-secret list and presented itself to the world in anomalous circumstances, says the aeronautical correspondent of “The Times.” This aeroplane, the Hawker Hurricane, has made itself famous by covering the 327 miles from Edinburgh to Northolt | at a speed of 403 miles an hour, but as it was helped on that trip by a strong tail-wind no sound deduction as to its top speed could be made. It was at least clear that the Hurricane as issued to the squadrons was faster than the prototype which was tested at Martlesham Heath, but, as the production model has never been subjected to similar trials, there is no official information concerning its speeds.

The Air Ministry may have a fair idea of what this aeroplane can do; the pilots who fly it have formed their own opinions; those who have watched the machine in flight have gained certain impressions, but precise figures, officially checked and verified, do not OUTSTANDING IN ITS CLASS ! A few vital facts are known with certainty. The landing speed is 60 miles an hour. It is therefore safe to assume that the stalling speed is not lower than 55 miles an hour. It is also established that the split flaps on the trailing edge of the wing are so efficient that the aeroplane’s speed range is in the ratio of six to one. From this it may be deduced that the top speed is not less than 330 miles an hour and may quite possibly be 335 miles an hour. If this estimate be taken as trustworthy, then the cruising speed at which the Hurricane would carry out its fighter patrols must be fully 280 miles an hour. It is also known that the load of petrol carried should be sufficient to supply the Rolls-Royce ' Merlin (1050 h.p.) engine at cruising rates for a period of 2£ hours, and this means that the Hurricane may cover 700’miles on patrol duty without refuelling. That is a record of which no previous fighter has been capable, and marks the Hurricane as outstanding in its class in 1 respect of duration as well as speed. Its rate of climb likewise is good. It reaches a height of 15,000 ft in six minutes and its service ceiling (the height at which the rate of climb falls to 100 ft a minute) is 30.000 ft. EIGHT MACHINE-GUNS CARRIED Not only are its chances of intercepting or overtaking bombers un- ; usually good, but it is also heavily armed for dealing with them. It cari ries eight of the new Browning mach-ine-guns, all mounted in the leading edge of the wing and trained so that their cone of fire would be concen-

1 rated on the target at the most effective range. None of the guns fir*»«through the area swept by the airscrew, and therefore the complication 1 of interrupter gear is removed. The machine is of low-wing design and metal construction with a fabric covering. Its undercarriage legs retract inwards and slightly backwards and are enclosed within the underside of the wing when retracted. The pilot’s cockpit is enclosed and is equipped with all the latest instruments for blind flying. The loaded weight is about 60001 b.