The Hawker Typhoon was a fast fighter-bomber used by the British RAF during World War II. It was one of the most reliable and finest close-support aircraft of this armed conflict. Although it had originally been designed as an interceptor, it became famous as a high-speed, low-level, strike aircraft. Armed with four 20-mm guns, rockets, and a bomb-load of 1,000-kg (2,100-lb), it was one of the Allies´ most important anti-tank combat aircraft. It was the British equivalent to the American P-47 Thunderbolt.
The prototype of the Hawker Typhoon, P5212, was first flown on February 24th, 1940, by test pilot Philip Lucas. Upon its first flight, the first improvements made on the first prototype were the enlargement of the tail fin and rudder and the reinforcement of its monocoque fuselage. The first and second prototype, P5216, were powered by one 2,000-HP Napier-Sabre piston engine. After more than a year of flight tests, the aircraft would finally enter service with the RAF on September 11, 1941, as the Typhoon Mk-IA. However, the most widely produced version would be the Mk-IB.
Below, the renowned WW2 British fighter-bomber in flight, banking left.
Technical Characteristics
The Hawker Typhoon was a single-seat, single-engine, low-wing monoplane. Its airframe consisted of steel tubes, while the fore portion of fuselage was welded duralumin panels. The rear section was semi-monocoque structure composed of flush-riveted metal panels. The wing of the Typhoon had a slightly inverted-gull wing design. Thus, the wing inner section had a 1-degree anhedral bend, while the outer section had five and a half degrees dihedral angle.
The radiator of the Napier-Sabre engine was large and it was located right underneath the aircraft nose. The pilot of aircraft was protected by a bullet-proof reinforced cockpit canopy as well as by an armor plate set up behind his seat. The landing gear was of the retractable, wide-track type, with the wheels folding up inwardly into root of wing.
Specifications (Mk-IB)
Type: fighter-bomber/interceptor
Length: 9.73 m (31 feet, 11 inches)
Wing Span: 12.67 m (41 feet, 7 inches)
Wing Area: 25.90 m2 (279 square feet)
Height: 4.52 m (14 feet, 10 inches)
Power Plant: one Napier-Sabre IIA, inline, piston engine, delivering 2,180 HP.
Maximum Speed: 664 km/h (413 mph)
Range: 1,500 km (932 miles) with drop tanks
Service Ceiling: 10,700 m (35,100 feet)
Crew: one
Armament: four 20-mm Hispano cannons; two 454-kg (1,000-lb) bombs; twelve rockets.
Below, the second prototype of the Typhoon, P5216, parked on the factory yard. Notice the large radiator under the engine.
A photo of the Mk-IB version taken around 1943.
Below, the Typhoon Mk-IA version.
