United Kingdom's Hawker Typhoon ("Tiffy") fighter1
Hawker Typhoon fighter:
Hawker Typhoon fighter:
Hawker Typhoon fighter:
Hawker Typhoon Mk I fighter, cockpit:
Hawker Typhoon Mk I B fighter:
Hawker Typhoon fighter over France:
Hawker Typhoon fighter, RCAF, Netherlands, April 2, 1945:
Design
Originally designed to be a fighter to combat the Focke Wulf Fw 190, but it wasn't as agile as its opponents.1
The Tornado was designed as the same time as the Typhoon and had a Rolls-Royce Vulture engine.1
The Typhoon was found to excel at being a close support aircraft.1
Canopy
Had a sliding bulletproof bubble canopy that allowed for excellent visibility.1
Engine
The Napier Sabre was very powerful but had reliability problems.1 Engine life could be as low as 20 hours.1
Undercarriage
The Typhoons undercarriage was wide and allowed for use from rough airstrips.1
Wings
The wing was very strong, allowing for large bomb loads and to dive at almost 500 mph / 800 kph.1
Tail
The Typhoon had tail flutter and it was solved by fitting "fish plates" to strengthen tail.1
Prototype
The Typhoon prototype first flew on February 24, 1940.1
Production
Variants
Usage
Became operational in September 1941.1
Typhoons shot down 246 Luftwaffe planes.1 The top Typhoon ace was J.R. Baldwin with 15 enemy aircraft shot down.1
Mistaken Identity
On some occasions the Typhoon was mistaken for a Focke Wulf Fw 190 and shot down by friendly planes.1
| Hawker Typhoon Mk IB1 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fighter-bomber1 |
| Crew | 11 |
| Engine (Type) | Napier Sabre IIA piston1 |
| Cylinders | Inline1 |
| Cooling | |
| HP | 2,1801 |
| Propeller blades | 31 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 41' 7"1 12.67 m1 |
| Length | 31' 11"1 9.73 m1 |
| Height | 14' 10"1 4.52 m1 |
| Wing area | 279 ft2 1 25.9 m2 1 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 8,800 lb1 3,992 kg1 |
| Loaded | 13,250 lb1 6,010 kg1 |
| Performance | |
| Speed | |
| Climb to 19,685' / 6,000 m |
413 mph1 664 kph1 |
| Service ceiling | 35,100'1 10,700 m1 |
| Range | 606 miles1 975 km1 |
| Range with drop tanks | 932 miles1 1,500 km1 |
| Armament | |
| Wings | 4: 20 mm Hispano1 |
| Rounds | 140 each1 |
| Bombs | 2: 1,000 lb1 2: 454 kg1 |
| OR | |
| Rockets | 8 or 12: 60 lb1 8 or 12: 27 kg1 |
| OR | |
| Drop tanks | 2: 45 gallon1 2: 205 liter1 |
| Production |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
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