Spitfire / Hurricane

Peter Clare · 01-11-2006, 04:40 PM

Looking through my collection of photo's I came across this one, as far as I am aware unpublished. The two aircraft are, in the foreground, Hurricane MkIIC PZ865, and in the background, Spitfire AB910 MkVB. Both are from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

I started to wonder which type gave the most outstanding wartime service? I for one am undecided as my aircraft is the B-24 Liberator of Coastal Command, an aircraft far removed from the fighters in the photo. The Spitfire for its grace, beauty and fighting ability or the Hurricane for its ruggedness and ability to take battle damage, its also said that the Hurricane was a better gun platform and did more to win the Battle of Britain.

What is the forums opinion?

Kitty · 01-11-2006, 08:39 PM

Hurricane. 'nuff said.

morse1001 · 01-11-2006, 11:24 PM

Hurricane! It was a great fighter but lacked the ability for development, then turned into a great ground attack fighter!

adamcotton · 13-11-2006, 11:59 PM

Gosh! This is an old, old debate. Both types will always have their champions, but the facts speak for themselves. There IS no comparison between Spitfire and Hurricane. The latter represented the zenith of applied biplane technology: rugged; dependable, for sure. And with its guns grouped more closely together, ultimately a better gun platform. But aerodynamically, in speed, in climb, in development potential, the Spitfire was a leap ahead. And ask yourself this: if you were out flying and you came across an angry Me109, what would you rather be flying - a Hurricane because it would take loads of hits and, provided you weren't killed in the fusilade, still get you home? Or a Spitfire, which was so much faster and quicker climbing that you might not need to get hit at all, and which had the performance parity with the Me109 to actually turn the tables if you flew it well?

I know what I'd plump for any day....

Cpl Rootes · 14-11-2006, 12:02 AM

Hurricanes, Lancs, B-17's and Dakotas

Kyt · 14-11-2006, 01:53 AM

Spit to fly
Hurri to fight

Audie_Murphy43 · 26-01-2007, 05:50 PM

The Spitfire gets most of the credit for the Battle of Britain but what most seem to forget is that there were far more Hurricanes than there were Spitfires. Britain would've ran out of fighters if not for the Hurricanes. But the Spitfire still has my heart won over.

Kitty · 26-01-2007, 06:17 PM

Nah, sorry i still can't agree. The Hurri could out turn a Spit and a 109. Fine, she wasn't as fast in a climb or dive, but that was because she didn't have the engine originally intended for her. On her first ever trial flight from Scotland to London, the Hurricane averaged over 500mph. This scared the designers so much they changed her engine to a less powerful one. Just think what the Hurri could have done in the BoB if she'd had that power?
The Spit was a beautiful aircraft and had the rate of climb and speed, but for me the Hurri still has it.

spidge · 27-01-2007, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitty

Nah, sorry i still can't agree. The Hurri could out turn a Spit and a 109. Fine, she wasn't as fast in a climb or dive, but that was because she didn't have the engine originally intended for her. On her first ever trial flight from Scotland to London, the Hurricane averaged over 500mph. This scared the designers so much they changed her engine to a less powerful one. Just think what the Hurri could have done in the BoB if she'd had that power?
The Spit was a beautiful aircraft and had the rate of climb and speed, but for me the Hurri still has it.

Interesting piece here about Hurricanes and Spitfires to Russia.

RAF Hurricanes in Russia

I have also posted this in Russia's War for a more pertinent discussion.

Lucy Stag · 27-01-2007, 03:26 AM

It does seem like the Hurrican gets less love than the Spitfire. Which is silly. But how could you not love Spitefires, as well?

13-11-2006, 11:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
adamcotton Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Brighton, England Posts: 352	Gosh! This is an old, old debate. Both types will always have their champions, but the facts speak for themselves. There IS no comparison between Spitfire and Hurricane. The latter represented the zenith of applied biplane technology: rugged; dependable, for sure. And with its guns grouped more closely together, ultimately a better gun platform. But aerodynamically, in speed, in climb, in development potential, the Spitfire was a leap ahead. And ask yourself this: if you were out flying and you came across an angry Me109, what would you rather be flying - a Hurricane because it would take loads of hits and, provided you weren't killed in the fusilade, still get you home? Or a Spitfire, which was so much faster and quicker climbing that you might not need to get hit at all, and which had the performance parity with the Me109 to actually turn the tables if you flew it well? I know what I'd plump for any day.... __________________ *Adam* *Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth* *And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings* *Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun split clouds -* *and done a hundred things* *You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.* *Up, up the long, delerious, burning blue* *I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark or even eagle flew-* *And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod* *The high untrespassed sanctity of space,* *Put out my hand and touched the face of God.* - John Gillespie Magee, Jr. 1922-1941

14-11-2006, 12:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
Cpl Rootes Very Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: With Puff the Magic Dragon, living by the sea Posts: 1,040	Hurricanes, Lancs, B-17's and Dakotas __________________ Regards, Alex http://rootsie.wordpress.com/

14-11-2006, 01:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
Kyt Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,968	Spit to fly Hurri to fight __________________ _______________________________________ Squadron Leader Pujji - Audio Interviews (half way down the page)

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01-11-2006, 08:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kitty Legendary Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5,121	Hurricane. 'nuff said.

01-11-2006, 11:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
morse1001 Very Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland Posts: 4,585	Hurricane! It was a great fighter but lacked the ability for development, then turned into a great ground attack fighter!

26-01-2007, 05:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Audie_Murphy43 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: California Posts: 11	The Spitfire gets most of the credit for the Battle of Britain but what most seem to forget is that there were far more Hurricanes than there were Spitfires. Britain would've ran out of fighters if not for the Hurricanes. But the Spitfire still has my heart won over.

26-01-2007, 06:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kitty Legendary Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5,121	Nah, sorry i still can't agree. The Hurri could out turn a Spit and a 109. Fine, she wasn't as fast in a climb or dive, but that was because she didn't have the engine originally intended for her. On her first ever trial flight from Scotland to London, the Hurricane averaged over 500mph. This scared the designers so much they changed her engine to a less powerful one. Just think what the Hurri could have done in the BoB if she'd had that power? The Spit was a beautiful aircraft and had the rate of climb and speed, but for me the Hurri still has it.

27-01-2007, 03:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
Lucy Stag Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 92	It does seem like the Hurrican gets less love than the Spitfire. Which is silly. But how could you not love Spitefires, as well?

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