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That's my old thread from Warships1, I'd forgotten about that post. I'd been on that forum since it's Ezboard days in the early 2000s, but I left the forum and deleted my account (hence the change to "Guest") as the decorum of the place took a real downturn, where people hiding behind anonymity would attack and belittle others in ways you'd never do in person. I recently created a new account there, but very rarely drop in. I prefer my online discussion forums to mirror person to person debate, imagine we're sitting at a cafe chatting on the merits of the Dewoitine D.376 for instance. That's why in my post history you may find me off the mark, but I will never intentionally insult, label or belittle another, and am quick to seek amends if I injure another. I've just seen too much of that elsewhere.Sydney Camm, apparently, designed a folding wing for the Hurricane, but it was never proceeded with.
Folding wing Hurricane
I have to admire those CAM ship pilots. Flying essentially throw-away aircraft, often ditching into the sea. Of note, I don't think they ever attached external fuel tanks to those Hurricanes, which would have given the pilot a better chance of making it home. Perhaps the risk of fire was too great, or the range on internal fuel was sufficient.Just started reading about Sea Hurricanes in the "Hawker Hurricane and Sea Hurricane" book by Tony O'Toole and before we even think about putting them on carriers they were put on converted merchant ships to be catapulted into the air when an enemy aircraft or sub was spotted. This alone took more than 80 modifications
There were 9 launches of CAM Hurricanes 1 pilot lost due to injuries baling out.I have to admire those CAM ship pilots. Flying essentially throw-away aircraft, often ditching into the sea. Of note, I don't think they ever attached external fuel tanks to those Hurricanes, which would have given the pilot a better chance of making it home. Perhaps the risk of fire was too great, or the range on internal fuel was sufficient.
You use the pot you have. The world changed radically from 1936 onwards. The Blenheim went from being a super fast light bomber to obsolete in a matter of a year. The British went from not being at war, to being at war with Germany, to being at war with Europe controlled Germany with German land based aircraft able to reach far into the Atlantic and Arctic in less than 12 moths. Its one thing getting a plane with folding wings in to service, it is another to get a competitive up to date one.If service dates are irrelevant, I'll take Hawker Sea Furies please.
The D.376 was no longer in service when the Sea Hurricane was introduced. Now, had the British followed the D.376's lead on folding wings for single-seat fighters, HMS Argus May have had more Sea Hurricanes to shoot down more Ju 88 and Condors.
It's shameful that the British, having pioneered the single-seat naval fighter should not have a folding-wing example in general fleet service until 1943. Of course that's more to do with the FAA's new idea of a twin-seat fighter, which of course did have folding wings. I'd like to think had the FAA, instead of the Fulmar chosen to continue with single seat fighters (starting with the Camel, then the Nightjar, Flycatcher, Nimrod and Gladiator), whatever it came up with would have been history's second single-seat, monoplane fighter with folding wings.
I was referring to the wiki article, This says 5 FW 200s destroyed and 1 chased off plus 4 He 111 and 1 Ju 88 destroyed, one Hurricane was shot down while downing 2 He111s I dont know whether that is a loss or not since it would have been abandoned anyway. PO Hay launched from SS Empire Lawrence. One CAM launch landed in Russia.No mention of folding wings in the book. For that one loss, the CAM Hurricanes shot down 6 Fw 200s(from the same book)
Thoughts on the D.376?
The Sea Hurricane was the interim solution. It could be easily disassembled to save space and reassembled for operations. Turning a Hurricane into a Sea Hurricane required only a conversion kit. Seafires were built as such and even the fixed wing variants required strengthening.If service dates are irrelevant, I'll take Hawker Sea Furies please.
The D.376 was no longer in service when the Sea Hurricane was introduced. Now, had the British followed the D.376's lead on folding wings for single-seat fighters, HMS Argus May have had more Sea Hurricanes to shoot down more Ju 88 and Condors.
It's shameful that the British, having pioneered the single-seat naval fighter should not have a folding-wing example in general fleet service until 1943. Of course that's more to do with the FAA's new idea of a twin-seat fighter, which of course did have folding wings. I'd like to think had the FAA, instead of the Fulmar chosen to continue with single seat fighters (starting with the Camel, then the Nightjar, Flycatcher, Nimrod and Gladiator), whatever it came up with would have been history's second single-seat, monoplane fighter with folding wings.
Folding the wings if done to match the width the stabilizers allows stowing more aircraft within the equivalent wingspan. As a ball park? The spotting factor stays the same for length, but in the same width, you're probably looking at 3-4 more aircraft. (Especially for something like an E-2.) Cockpit access would depend on where the wing break is on that particular aircraft.Folding the wings backwards doesn't create more space though it may be more convenient for some things, it seems to block any access to the cockpit t.o my un trained eye
When I look at this pic of HMS Argus, I cant help but think backward folding Hurricanes would have created more space, though vertical fold perhaps more so.
Jes#s, why so long? I bet you could remove and reinstall the wings off a Hawker Hurricane is less than a hour.folding of the wings was fast, a few minutes, it took about one hour to put them back in position of flight.
Try taking a wardrobe apart and then putting it back together.Jes#s, why so long? I bet you could remove and reinstall the wings off a Hawker Hurricane is less than a hour.