On June 23, 1942, Oberleutnant Arnim Faber erroneously landed his Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-3 fighter at RAF Pembrey, apparently having mistaken this airfield for a Luftwaffe channel coast airfield. The British were thereby presented with a working example of the Fw 190 fighter, which had been giving the RAF an extremely difficult time. The Hawker Fury design was a direct result of the examination of Faber's Fw 190A-3.
Examination of Faber's aircraft was largely responsible for the preparation of Specification F.6/42, which called for a new, high-performance fighter. In the meantime, Hawker had been working on several proposals for light fighters intended to halt the upward spiral in the weight and complexity of fighter aircraft. Among these proposals was the Sabre IV-powered P.1018, the Griffon 61-powered P.1019, and the Centaurus IV-powered P.1020. In late 1942, the first discussions were held concerning a lighter and smaller version of the Tempest in which the wing center section would be eliminated and the outer wing sections brought together on the aircraft centerline.
A total of six Fury/Sea Fury prototypes were ordered, two being powered by the Griffon, two with the Centaurus XXII, one with the Centaurus XII, and one to be used as a test structure.
The third Fury prototype, NX802, was powered by the Centaurus XV and flew for the first time on July 25, 1945. The third prototype (NX802) was refitted with a Centaurus XVIII.
The forth Fury prototype was VP207, completed from stock parts after the war in ca.1947 and flown with a Napier Sabre VII engine.
The Sabre VII-powered Fury was perhaps the fastest piston-engine aircraft ever built by Hawker, possessing a maximum speed of 485 mph at 18,500 feet and 457 mph at 8000 feet. Range with two drop tanks was 1480 miles. Initial climb rate was 5240 feet, and an altitude of 24,000 feet could be attained in 6 minutes. Service ceiling was 41,500 feet. Weights were 9350 lbs empty, 12,130 lbs loaded.
The Napier Sabre VII was a 3055 hp twenty-four-cylinder liquid-cooled horizontal-H engine.
Examination of Faber's aircraft was largely responsible for the preparation of Specification F.6/42, which called for a new, high-performance fighter. In the meantime, Hawker had been working on several proposals for light fighters intended to halt the upward spiral in the weight and complexity of fighter aircraft. Among these proposals was the Sabre IV-powered P.1018, the Griffon 61-powered P.1019, and the Centaurus IV-powered P.1020. In late 1942, the first discussions were held concerning a lighter and smaller version of the Tempest in which the wing center section would be eliminated and the outer wing sections brought together on the aircraft centerline.
A total of six Fury/Sea Fury prototypes were ordered, two being powered by the Griffon, two with the Centaurus XXII, one with the Centaurus XII, and one to be used as a test structure.
The third Fury prototype, NX802, was powered by the Centaurus XV and flew for the first time on July 25, 1945. The third prototype (NX802) was refitted with a Centaurus XVIII.
The forth Fury prototype was VP207, completed from stock parts after the war in ca.1947 and flown with a Napier Sabre VII engine.
The Sabre VII-powered Fury was perhaps the fastest piston-engine aircraft ever built by Hawker, possessing a maximum speed of 485 mph at 18,500 feet and 457 mph at 8000 feet. Range with two drop tanks was 1480 miles. Initial climb rate was 5240 feet, and an altitude of 24,000 feet could be attained in 6 minutes. Service ceiling was 41,500 feet. Weights were 9350 lbs empty, 12,130 lbs loaded.
The Napier Sabre VII was a 3055 hp twenty-four-cylinder liquid-cooled horizontal-H engine.
Comment