Hawker "Hurricane"
Model Airplane News Cover Art for April, 1936
by Jo Kotula
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The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. Some production of the Hurricane was carried out in Canada by the Canada Car and Foundry Co Ltd. Although largely overshadowed by the Spitfire, the aircraft became renowned during the Battle of Britain.

     

The Hawker Hurricane
The middle picture is from a WWII era elementary textbook
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The 1930s design evolved through several versions and adaptations, resulting in a series of aircraft which acted as interceptor-fighters, fighter-bombers (also called "Hurribombers"), and ground support aircraft. Further versions known as the Sea Hurricane had modifications which enabled operation from ships.

Some were converted as catapult-launched convoy escorts, known as "Hurricats". Together with the Spitfire, the Hurricane was significant in enabling the Royal Air Force (RAF) to win the Battle of Britain of 1940, accounting for the majority of the RAF's air victories. About 14,000 Hurricanes were built by the end of 1944 (including about 1,200 converted to Sea Hurricanes and some 1,400 built in Canada), and served in all the major theatres of the Second World War. Here is a video of a restored Hurricane flying in a contemporary airshow

Click Here for more information about the Hawker "Hurricane". Here is an article comparing the Hurricane and the Spitfire that appeared in Popular Mechanics

Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire compared
Popular Mechanics November, 1939
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Here is a Cleveland kit that was brought out almost contemporaneous with the first flight of what was [then] known as The Hawker Monoplane. It was not until a few years later that this plane became known as the Hurricane. This indicates that the kit is probably pre-1936.

   The Cleveland Hawker Monoplane Kit
probably dates to 1934-1936
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The next Clevland model of the Hurricane is significant in that it is from the Industrial Training series. This fine line was offered for school projects during World War II. The line includes "IT" (Industrial Training) subjects having wing spans of 24 to 36 inches, and "T" subjects having 36-inch spans. Kits with these boxes were only produced from 1940-1946.

     


     

The Cleveland Hurricane Kit
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Hawker Hurricane on the Cleveland Site

You can buy the plans and patterns that will enable you to make this model right now. Click Here to go to the exact location on the Cleveland Website to get them.

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