Hawker Hurricane V7497 Performs First Flight in Nearly 78 Years [Video]

Hawker Hurricane V7497 (G-HRLI) has performed its first flight since being shot down by Bf 109s over Kent, England nearly 78 years ago.

The aircraft was manufactured by Hawker Aircraft, Ltd in mid-1940 and issued to 501 Squadron at the height of the Battle of Britain. It was only a few weeks old when it was shot down on September 28, 1940 – the pilot, Everett Bryan Rogers, escaping by parachute. After identification and the recovery of key components, the decision was made to restore the aircraft to airworthy condition “as a tribute to all those that stood firm during the Battle of Britain.”

The Merlin was rebuilt by Eye Tech Engineering, while the airframe was restored by the experts at Hawker Restorations along with its sister company, AJD Engineering. The process included the use of original drawings to scratch build new wings, which were fitted with reproduction .303 Browning machine guns complete with “all the adjustment mechanisms fitted internally as per the original aircraft.”

The machine performed its first post-restoration flight from Elmset and will eventually be based at Duxford as a permanent home. Click below to check out a video of the test.

Let’s celebrate the first flight of V7497 on its first flight in nearly 78 years! Glad to see Hurricane 501 finally airborne 🍾🥂🙏🏼 She will eventually be based at Duxford as a permanent home 👍 Posted by Andrew Goodall on Thursday, August 30, 2018



(via Andrew Goodall / Hawker Hurricane 501 – V7497 Image: MLWatts via Wikimedia Commons Thanks, Pascal!)