Hurricane BE505 to be converted into a two seater!

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8 years 7 months

Posts: 427

Sadly it's confirmed in the latest flypast that Hawker Hurricane BE505 is to be converted to a 2 seater!

Will end up with no single seat warbirds left of this trend carries on!

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Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 5,927

Maybe someone will produce a Thruxton Jackaroo inspired version of a Hurricane or a Spitfire!

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14 years 3 months

Posts: 1,205

I *really* hope they don't...

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20 years

Posts: 3,902

Seems rather odd to sacrifice a rare and immaculate example when there are still projects out there that could perhaps be used. I saw a semi restored airframe at Thruxton 3 years ago with Phil Lawton that was mooted as a potential two seater. See RHS of photo.

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Member for

8 years 7 months

Posts: 427

The article says that they are converting the Hurribomber to a two.seater and have a MKI they are doing.as a twin seat too!

Member for

16 years 9 months

Posts: 1,011

What's the historical precedent for this? Did Hawker ever build a two seat Hurricane?

Member for

11 years 9 months

Posts: 48

A handful of Soviet Hurricane's were converted to twin-stick spec.

Member for

6 years 1 month

Posts: 168

Good news for Hawker Restorations, keeping the work rolling in. Will one be finished as an Iranian aircraft?

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8 years 10 months

Posts: 544

A hell of a sacrifice, an immaculately restored, authentic looking Hurribomber, into a glorified rickshaw with wings (and an engine).

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20 years 7 months

Posts: 18,353

Hmm. April edition of the magazine, perhaps...?

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12 years

Posts: 1,141

They look rather good.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii120/Duggy009/Hawker-Hurricane-Iran-1.jpg
But the second seat did need a canopy.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii120/Duggy009/Hawker-Hurricane-Iran.jpg
Apparently very drafty.

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Member for

11 years 2 months

Posts: 580

I've heard from more than one pilot, that with the canopy open,they truly live up to their name "Hurricane"

Member for

16 years 10 months

Posts: 268

It'll be interesting to see, although of possible marginal practical use in the UK/Northern Europe. A 200 mph open cockpit in the Western Desert or Middle East - not a bad way of scooting around. But in Europe, even in the most balmy of summers? Now, I enjoy open cockpit flying, but I think I'd pass after a couple of circuits once curiosity had been satisfied.

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19 years

Posts: 2,656

So no one bothered to look on the Hawker Restorations web site then.

http://hawkerrestorations.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/gb2pl1r1.jpg

2 SEATER HAWKER HURRICANE
An exciting opportunity has arisen to either partner with Hawker Restorations or outright own the only 2 Seater Hurricane in the World. There are many 2 seat Spitfires operating in the UK which not only give a unique flying experience but generates substantial income in order to offset the restoration and running costs. A 2 seater Hawker Hurricane would not only compliment the 2 seater market it would be an absolutely unique addition. For more information please do not hesitate to contact us.

http://hawkerrestorations.co.uk/sale/2-seater-hawker-hurricane/

Brian

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,000

A number of Hurricanes were supplied to USAAF units in N.Africa and the Med Theatre for comms duties, and the Americans came up with the two-seat field mod as shown in Brian's Hawker Restorations link above. I don't think HR are planning to do any Persian or Soviet style two-seaters.

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15 years

Posts: 1,712

I think it is a fantastic idea, they look really nice in the pictures that Duggy posted. Furthermore I wouldn’t think that the conversion would be a cut and shut job that would be irreversible. Look forward to seeing it.

Member for

16 years 10 months

Posts: 268

That two canopied photo was doing the rounds when the original incarnation was proposed a few years ago when HR obtained the Steve Milnthorpe airframe with a two seater in mind. What hasn't been considered in the thread yet is the practicality of certification. While no means guaranteed it is possible that CAA will require some form of roll-over protection, especially if she will be taking part in the semi-commercial world of paid pleasure flights. Any final configuration will likely, and rightly, be a compromise between PAX safety and historical accuracy. Regardless, it'll be interesting to see.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 8,464

In theory, its much more straightforward than modifying a Spitfire (or building a new one). The tubular fuselage framework doesn't have to change at all - its just a case of building a bespoke doghouse and modifying the woodwork to suit. If its for passenger operations only - as opposed to flight training, it just needs a seat and a cup holder!

Member for

16 years 10 months

Posts: 268

Hi Bruce, yes, from an engineering perspective very straightforward. I believe that the Vickers TR9 Spitfires had a rudimentary roll-over pylon (granted not very substantial and I wouldn’t wish to rely on it!) behind the rear seat. As they stand I don’t believe any of the existing two seat Hurricane options have that. However with the correct stress and design analysis not difficult to incorporate.

I’m not sure that whether the aircraft were being used for pilot training would colour the CAA view. In fact they may take the opposite view and be inclined to accept that one being used for pilot training and conversion where the trainee is already an experienced pilot and therefore fully aware of and accepting of the associated risks, is less in need of roll-over protection than one being used for carrying around members of the public who are there only on board for a leisurely £800 Sunday afternoon bimble around. It’s down to perception and acceptance of risk.

Member for

16 years 8 months

Posts: 197

End of the day. Owning warbirds is an expensive endeavour. A friend of mine who’s dad operates a twin seat Spitfire has showed me how busy they are with flights. They make a rather sizeable amount from that.

Member for

18 years 3 months

Posts: 1,216

Two seat Spitfires all have the front cockpit moved forward before adding the rear seat, done to help the CofG but two seat Hurricanes do not appear to be so modified, will getting the CofG into acceptable limits be a problem. The Shuttleworth Sea Hurri did, I seem to remember, caused by the weight of the hook.

Richard