HAWKER HURRICANE

          Z7015          

Z7015 - Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk Ib - pic by Nigel Key
Z7015 - Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk Ib, ©Nigel Key

PZ865 | LF363 | Z7015 | Z5140 | R4118 | BE505

After the success of the Hawker Hurricane during the Battle of Britain, the Navy decided to use the Hurricane to help defend the Atlantic convoys.

The Atlantic convoys were out of range of 'land based' aircraft so Hurricanes were modified with the addition of catapult spools to enable them to be launched from either Catapult Armed Merchant ships (CAM ships) or Fighter catapult ships, these were the first Sea Hurricanes Mk.1a. The attack on U-boats was co-ordinated by FW-200 Condor aircraft.

The use of the Sea Hurricanes Mk.1a or 'Hurricat' was not ideal as the aircraft was not able to be recovered by the catapult ship it was launched from and either had to make it back to land (if in range) or ditch close to the convoy.

To solve the problem of recovering the aircraft the Sea Hurricane Ib was introduced which was modified to include an arrester hook which would enable them to land on a small flight deck on modified merchant ships.

Hawker Hurricane Mk.I Z7015 was manufactured by Canadian Car and Foundry at the Fort William plant during 1940 and was shipped to the UK. It was converted to a Sea Hurricane Mk Ib in June 1941.

Close-up of Arrester Hook

In 1943 Z7015 was transferred to London Borough College and used as an Instructional airframe where it remained until it was transferred to the Shuttleworth Collection in 1961.

Z7015 was not airworthy and appeared in the film Battle of Britain as a static aircraft. Several unsuccessful attempts to restore the aircraft were made until an agreement was made between the Imperial War Museum and the Shuttleworth Collection. The restoration commenced early 1986 and was completed in mid-1995 with the first flight on 16th September 1995 flown by Andy Sephton.

The sea Hurricane Mk1b Z7015 '7-L' can be seen displayed at Old Warden as part of the Shuttleworth Collection in the Fleet Air Arm colours of 880 squadron and is the only airworthy Sea Hurricane Mk Ib in the World.

SPECIFICATION (Mk Ib)
Length - 31ft 4in (9.55m)
Wingspan - 40ft 0in (12.19m)
Height - 12ft 11.5in (3.95m)
Engine - R.R. Merlin III
Power - 1,028 Hp
Max. Speed - 317mph (510km/h)
Range - 505 mile (813km)

ARMAMENT
Machine Guns - 8 x 0.303" Browning


PZ865 | LF363 | Z7015 | Z5140 | R4118 | BE505


PHOTOGRAPHS

Z7015 Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib - Old Warden 2008 - pic by Nigel Key Z7015 Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib - Old Warden 2008 - pic by Nigel Key Z7015 Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib - Old Warden 2009 - pic by Nigel Key
Old Warden 2008 Old Warden 2008 Old Warden 2009
Z7015 Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib - Old Warden 2007 - pic by Nigel Key Z7015 Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib - Old Warden 2007 - pic by Nigel Key Z7015 Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib - Old Warden 2008 - pic by Nigel Key
Old Warden 2007 Old Warden 2007 Old Warden 2008
Z7015 Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib - Duxford 2003 - pic by Nigel Key Z7015 Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib - Old Warden 2007 - pic by Nigel Key Z7015 Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib - Old Warden 2007 - pic by Nigel Key
Duxford 2003 Old Warden 2007 Old Warden 2007


Photos copyright of ©Nigel Key



Movie Appearances

Battle of Britain
Starring: Michael Caine, Kenneth More, Christopher Plummer.

An all star cast, the Battle of Britain is a spectacular film of a true story that shows courage at its inspiring best. The film shows how when the outnumbered Royal AIr Force (RAF) defied insurmountable odds when engaging the German Luftwaffe, they may well have altered the course of history!

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Part of the Shuttleworth Collection



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