Which came first Spitfire or Hurricane?

The Hurricane out a year before the Spitfire, answering to a design specification of a fighter that could carry the machine guns that it could. Now, a Hurricane was designed in a traditional way. If you look at the sides, they are all Irish linen, a Spitfire, all monocoque steel-stressed skin.

Which plane was better Spitfire or Hurricane?

The Spitfire was a technologically advanced fighter with excellent speed, maneuverability, and climb rate. It had a higher top speed than the Hurricane and was more agile. The Spit was particularly effective in engaging German fighters, due to its superior performance at higher altitudes.

What was the plane before the Spitfire?

The Hurricane was the most numerous of RAF Fighter Command's aircraft during the Battle of Britain, equipping 33 squadrons by September 1940. Its traditional design - a wood and metal framework covered in fabric - was derived from earlier biplane fighters and was essentially out of date despite later improvements.

Could a Hurricane out turn a Spitfire?

As a fighter, the Hurricane had some drawbacks. It was slightly slower than both the Spitfire I and II and the Messerschmitt Bf 109E, and the thicker wing profiles compromised acceleration; but it could out-turn both of them.

When were Spitfires invented?

Designed around a 1,000-horsepower, 12-cylinder, liquid-cooled Rolls-Royce PV-12 engine (later dubbed the Merlin), the Spitfire first flew in March 1935. It had superb performance and flight characteristics, and deliveries to operational Royal Air Force (RAF) squadrons commenced in the summer of 1938.

From Grime to Shine. Weaving up through France to miss the blockades.

What is the difference between a hurricane and a Spitfire?

Some comparisons: Although only a few years apart in design and development the Spitfire was a generation ahead, (as the original design of the Hurricane was of a biplane,) 1000 lbs lighter, the more advanced Merlin, tfc and significantly “clearer” the Spitfire had, on average 300–325 more hp and king 30–40 more mph.

What plane replaced the Spitfire?

The Supermarine Spiteful was a British Rolls-Royce Griffon–engined fighter aircraft designed by Supermarine to Air Ministry specification F. 1/43 during the Second World War as a successor to the Spitfire.

Why was the Hurricane better than the Spitfire?

The thick wing created excellent lift, which meant HC was a good climber - it had better climbing rate than Spitfire and similar as Bf 109 E. HC was also easy to maintain and the guns were easy to reload. As the rear fuselage was fabric, it was also easy to repair. Some early models had also fabric wings.

Why is Spitfire more famous than Hurricane?

It is pretty simple. Right from their inception, the Spitfire was a significantly more advanced platform than the Hurricane, having better initial all-around performance & hugely greater growth potential.

Did the Spitfire and Hurricane have the same engine?

The Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine powered some of the most famous aeroplanes of World War II, including the Spitfire, the Hurricane, the Mosquito, the Mustang and the Lancaster. The Merlin was also used in aeroplanes like the Fairey Battle and the Boulton Paul Defiant.

Did the Soviets like the Spitfire?

The Soviet Union was then supplied with some 1,200 Spitfire Mk. IXs from 1943. Soviet pilots liked them but they did not suit Soviet combat tactics and the rough conditions at the forward airfields close to the front lines. Spitfires Mk.

Did a Spitfire shoot down a jet?

The Spitfire's steady pace of development meant that it always remained a formidable adversary to any opponent. Even the world's first jet fighter, the Me262, was first shot down by a Spitfire.

What was the fastest plane in WW2?

Was the Messerschmitt Me 262 the fastest plane in WW2? Nowhere near the fastest. The Me163 Komet had a top speed about 100 mph faster than the Me262, at 659 mph vs 559 mph.

Was the Mosquito faster than the Spitfire?

The Mosquito reached 408 mph in level flight, which was faster than the operational version of the Spitfire at the time, whose top speed was 370 mph. After this demonstration flight, the airplane almost failed its acceptance for the Royal Air Force.

Was the Mustang or Spitfire better?

In most cases, the Spitfire had better performance as an all-purpose fighter. The all-important climb rate for a P51D sat at 3200ft per minute whilst the Spitfire could climb at an impressive 3650ft per minute. The maximum speed of a P51D was 437mph whilst the Spitfire was slightly faster at 448mph.

Which plane shot down the most planes in ww2?

While there isn't a definitive 'score' for the Spitfire, the available statistical evidence points to the Spitfire shooting down more planes than its rivals.

What did Luftwaffe pilots think of the Spitfire?

After flying high over Britain in the Spitfire, Broch heaped praise on his former adversary's formidable fighter plane: “The Spitfire was greatly respected. With these machines you have a feeling of being free, and being able to do what you want.”

Are there any airworthy Spitfires?

It was the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the war. The Spitfire remains popular among enthusiasts; around 70 remain airworthy, and many more are static exhibits in aviation museums throughout the world. Spitfire LF Mk IX, MH434 in 2018 in the markings of its original unit No. 222 Squadron RAF.

Was the zero better than the Spitfire?

Spitfire was more than 100 mph faster than the zero and the P40b which the Flying Tigers used. The Spitfire had a higher altitude ceiling, more fire power and could out dive the Zero. The Spitfire sacrificed maneuverability and range to the Zero. The Spitfire had about half the range, 1000 miles verse nearly 2000.

What was the fatal flaw of the Spitfire fighter plane?

The Spitfire's original engine couldn't handle barrel rolls. The throttle valve would get flooded with fuel as the plane turned upside-down. German pilots quickly caught on to this particular flaw because black smoke would puff out of the Spitfire whenever it flipped over.

What was the Spitfires weakness?

How many ww2 Spitfires are still flying?

The Spitfire - an aviation icon still flying

Out of over 20,000 built, (many of which were assembled at the Cowley Plant in West Bromwich), there are only around 50 airworthy examples left today.

How many Spitfire planes still exist?

Around 240 are known to exist. Of these, around 60 are airworthy. 70-odd are used for static display and around 110 across the world are either held in storage or are being actively restored. Unsurprisingly, it's the United Kingdom that has the largest number of airworthy Spitfires remaining (30 out of the 60).

What is the most feared fighter jet in the world?

However, some of the most advanced and lethal fighter jets currently in service are: The F-22 Raptor, a stealth air superiority fighter developed by the United States. It has superior speed, maneuverability, and stealth, as well as a powerful array of weapons and sensors.

Why is the RAF so small?

RAF troop strength had declined significantly by the second decade of the 21st century as part of an overall force-reduction strategy implemented by the British military. With some 35,000 troops and fewer than 150 fixed-wing combat aircraft, the RAF was a smaller, more-focused force than it had been in previous years.