Designed as a Carrierbourne fighter it bore the brunt of early Japanese assaults in the Pacific. As these markings illustrate it was also used by the Royal Navy, originally under the name "Martlett" but soon resumed its original Amaerican name. We are fortunate enough to have a full set of piston powered Grumman Cats.
Bigger and more powerful than its predecessor it was able to compete with the Japanese A6M "Zero" on more equal terms. Although not as nimble as the Zero, improved tactics and the greater power of the Hellcat helped it to achive massive kill ratios.
Grumman F7F Tigercat
This superb twin engined heavy naval fighter suffered greatly from the post war cuts and orders were slashed. Fast, maneuverable and with devastating firepower this aircraft would have no doubt made its mark had the war continued.
Grumman F8F Bearcat
The single engined contempory of the Tigercat and suffered accordingly. Basically this was the smallest, streamlined airframe possible to build around the P&W R2800 engine. The perfromance of this aircraft has astounding performance.
Claiming 2140 victories for the loss of 189 of its own kind this Naval Fighter had the highest kill ratio of any type in WWII. Originally thought to be too fast and unmanagable for carrier operations by the US Navy, the fighter was passed to the Royal Navy who showed it not only to be suitable but also devastatingly effective. They soldered on for many years, serving with the French in Vietnam..
Hawker Sea Fury
This beautiful monster was built as a carrier fighter but was originally planned for the RAF. It fought with great efficiency in Korea, scoring a number of kills against the much faster Jet Mig 15. It is powered by the huge 18 cylender Bristol Centurus radial engine it represents the pinnacle of piston engined fighters.
Gloster Gladiator
The last Biplane fighter bought by the RAF. These slow but maneuverable aircraft fought valiantly in the western desert and defended Malta against unbelievable odds during WWII. This example is operated by the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden. It is marked in Norwegian colours, one of the export operators of the type.
Part of the huge family of inter war Hawker Light Bombers and Fighters. Fast for their time they were powered by the Rolls Royce Kestrel 12 cylender V12 engine. Ominously this engine was also used for the first flights of the Messerschmitt BF109 and Junkers JU87 Stuka! The Hind served from 1934 and into WWII by which time they were relegated to the training role.
Hind, 2 Hurricanes and the post war Fury. A tribute to the genius of Sidney Camm, Hawkers chief designer. He went on into the jet age designing the beautiful Hunter and amazing Harrier (then the Kestrel P1127).
Responsible for 80% of all kills during the Battle of Britain. This is the Fighter Collections example. There are a growing number of these under restoration. This is the first 8 gun, monoplane fighter for the RAF. Its simple, rugged construction could take more battle damage and be more easily repaired than the Spitfire. Suprisingly the Hurricane actually had a higher service ceiling and was slightly more maneuverable than the Spitfire.
