Hawker Fury I
Hawker · United Kingdom · first flew 1931 · fighter
The Hawker Fury I was the first RAF fighter to exceed 200 mph in level flight and was widely regarded as the most beautiful biplane fighter of its era. It was the pinnacle of interwar biplane fighter development in Britain.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.13 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Elegant single-bay biplane with inline engine and neat spinner
- Streamlined wheel spats and I-type interplane struts
- Open cockpit with pronounced headrest fairing
The clean single-bay biplane with streamlined I-struts, spatted undercarriage, a neat Kestrel inline engine with a pointed spinner, and the balanced proportions set it apart from the heavier Hawker Hart family.
Specifications
- The Hawker Fury I has a length of 8.13 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.14 m (30 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Fury emerged from the Hawker Hornet design and first flew in 1931, entering RAF service the same year with No. 43 Squadron. It was powered by the Rolls-Royce Kestrel IIS engine and featured an exceptionally clean aerodynamic form. Though an excellent performer, its high cost limited procurement, and it was already being supplanted by monoplane designs before the war.
Variants
The Fury I was the initial RAF version; the Fury II introduced the more powerful Kestrel VI engine and was slightly faster; export Furies were supplied to Persia, Yugoslavia, Portugal, Spain and South Africa.
Where you'll see it
RAF Furies served with several home defence squadrons through the 1930s, with the last withdrawn from front-line service in 1939; Yugoslav Furies saw action against the German invasion in April 1941.
Related aircraft
- Fury
- Hawker Hart Mk I
- Hawker Hurricane
- Hawker Hurricane Mk I
- Aero A.46
- Arado Ar 65
- Boeing F4B-2
- Boeing F4B-4
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