Hurricane test flight.

[DownWest]

Thought this might be of interest: https://www.vintagewings.ca/stories/...-of-the-reaper I had a chat with the pilot, as my father flew with 242 in France.

Anybody know how many currentlyairworthy Hurricanes?
DW

[DHfan]

Depending on who you ask, it's about 16 or 17.

Staggering really. I think there were just the two BBMF examples flying anywhere at one time.

This is probably "peak Hurricanes" or very close to it as I think Hawker Restorations are pretty well out of new spar material.

[DownWest]

It appears that the swaging machines and people with the knowledge to use them for spars are still being used in UK, so spars are not the problem they were.

[DHfan]

It's not the machinery or the knowledge that's in short supply.

There is a finite supply of the material used to make the spars.
Hawker Restorations said a few years ago there was only enough material for, I think then, perhaps 5 or 6 more spars.
Presumably some spars had been manufactured then and the aircraft not completed but several have flown since that report.

[DH106]

Originally Posted by DHfan

There is a finite supply of the material used to make the spars.

Is it a special alloy not used any more in the spars perhaps?

[bobward]

Try looking out Hawker Hurricane Survivors by Gordon Riley (2015) ISBN -13:9-781-909808-34-8. That might give you a very good start.

[DHfan]

Originally Posted by DH106

Is it a special alloy not used any more in the spars perhaps?

Basically - yes.

This is from memory so not absolute gospel but as I recall Hawker Restorations had a batch specially made and rolled.
As of 5 or 6 years ago (?), there wasn't much left...

[Alchad]

All you need to know!

A complex structure | | World Leaders in Hurricane Restoration (hawkerrestorations.co.uk)

Sort of staggering in a way, 80 yeas on and we can't make them anymore, same thing they said about the pyramids I suppose.

Alchad

[DownWest]

So, realy a question of money. if any real interest was involved, then the alloy steels etc would be sourced.
Not sure if anybody is interested in building a pyramid. A few scale costs compared with re-building an aircraft

[uxb99]

What's the rationale of performing a test flight with the gear down?

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by uxb99

What's the rationale of performing a test flight with the gear down?

First flights are often made without retracting the gear. One less complication to worry about.

[Jhieminga]

Originally Posted by uxb99

What's the rationale of performing a test flight with the gear down?

The first flight was a basic test of airframe and engine. The pilot explained that the prop governor needed adjustment for example. Leaving the gear down means one less thing to worry about if there is a serious problem with said engine.

[uxb99]

Thanks for the replies. I wondered if it was because they didn't have much confidence with the u/c working :-) but know I know.