HAWKER HURRICANE I V7497 (G-HRLI) made its post-restoration flight from Elmsett, Suffolk, on 30 August, with Stu Goldspink at the controls. The Hurricane is the latest of the type to be restored by Hawker Restorations, and the second to fly from the facility.
The fighter was constructed in mid-1940 and saw action during the Battle of Britain. It was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 over Kent on 28 September 1940 while operating from RAF Kenley, Surrey. Tens of thousands of hours have gone into the rebuild over the years, with the wings being refitted to the fuselage in December last year, and the 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron livery being applied. Its Rolls-Royce Merlin III engine was run up for the first time on 13 June this year. Its return to flight status increases the number of airworthy Battle of Britain campaign Hurricane survivors to three (R4118 and P3717 being the other two).
The aircraft will be flown to Duxford, Cambridgeshire, once testing is complete, where its shared owners will have the Hurricane operated by the Aircraft Restoration Company. A quarter share in the fighter is still available for a suitable investor, so contact Andrew Wenman at Hawker Restorations if you are interested!
