Sea Hurricane Z7015

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I remember seeing her make her debut at Mildenhall, same time as PZ865 appeared with the replica cannons.

My favourite warbird on the circuit and one of the few to stay in this country!

I always thought that the restriction on full aerobatic flight was because the wings are the original units and not new build. Subsequently the CAA have imposed a limited display restriction because of the spars.

A long while back, about 1970, I was involved with a group at LHR wanting to take on some aircraft restoration, and Shuttleworth were approached. The instigator was a very nice chap, Roy Pullen, a BA 747 captain. as a result we were offered part of the work on Z7015. The whole airframe had already been sent to Dowty who were starting work on the fuselage. The wings and tail were redirected to us at LHR.

One wing had a large area of damage and one tip was squashed after it had been driven over, both caused during filming. All this and many other snags were repaired using repair schemes drawn up within BA. The spar bushes were removed and the spars crack checked, presumably X-rayed. The repairs are visible if you look. The spars were given a full NDT inspection as I remember but the wings were not fully dimantled which is why the CAA have imposed the limitation, I believe.

The project ended for us after the wings had been completed, the tailplane needed new steel spars, not available at that time. Dowty subsequently passed the fuselage back to Shuttleworth where it all sat until the project was restarted years later.

Most Hurricanes restored recently have new build wings fitted, without spar limitations.

Richard

Interesting about the Sea Hurricane C of G. Seafires presumably had the same problem but this was countered with a great big lead mass balance bolted to the engine bearer on the starboard side. A few have turned up on Seafire III digs. Has anyone got under the cowling pics of Sea Hurricane?

I don’t think SeaHurri’s had CofG problems when they were in service, I believe the problem with Z7015 was due to the removal of much of the armour plate in the forward areas of the aircraft, and the fitting of a Dowty wooden prop in place of the heavier (metal) original deHavilland unit. Her original dH prop was fitted to the collection’s Spit V around 30 years ago and she’s never got it back!

Interesting about the Sea Hurricane C of G. Seafires presumably had the same problem but this was countered with a great big lead mass balance bolted to the engine bearer on the starboard side. A few have turned up on Seafire III digs. Has anyone got under the cowling pics of Sea Hurricane?

Wasn’t there some ill-feeling with the resto team when Z7015 went back to OW and the PR.XI was sold?

Only just found this site, hence delay in response.
There was no disquiet over the Sea Hurricane removing to Old Warden. We were all first and foremost Shuttleworth orientated. No one was happy when the PR Spit and the Anson TX183 (where is she now?) were sold after we had spent so much time on them, but that never stopped efforts on other Shuttleworth endeavours. Sadly several of the team have departed this mortal coil, but as someone else remarked, Steve McManus is still the ace Merlin rebuilder at Old Warden. 14 years of comradeship and pride in a joint venture is something I shall never forget. Only my damned wheelchair stopped me continuing

Wasn’t there some ill-feeling with the resto team when Z7015 went back to OW and the PR.XI was sold?

JDK, thanks for the info on the hook.

It was in an article by Airbedane that mentioned the CoG problems and replacement with a fibreglass one.

I must admit, all the times I’ve looked around the aircraft at OW, I’ve never taken a good look at the hook!

Rocketeer, interesting what you say about the Hurricane having neutral stablity. It seems that the Sea Hurricane didn’t as in the same article IIRC, Airbedane mentions that the Pilots Notes for the Sea Hurricane hint at instablity with phrases such as “It is difficult to trim the aircraft to fly hands off” & “the aircraft will tighten and tends to ‘tuck in’ during turns.

I haven’t got the article to hand, but recall that he said this was true of Z7015 without the original hook and it’s gear fitted. Regarding the ‘tuck in’ during turns, from what I’ve heard, the land based equivilant had this problem too, and come to think of it, I recall John Allison mentioning on an airshow video that the Hurricane was dynamically unstable in pitch.

It would be interesting to hear what Airbedane has to say about how the Vacher Hurricane handles (I’m sure he’s flown it), which is supposed to have a more aft CoG than other flying examples because of all the stock military equipment and guns etc.

Cheers

Paul

The difficulty in trimming the aircraft hands off would be a characteristic of neutral stability too. Tucking in during turns is interesting. Certainly a characteristic of the Typhoon, that is until the mother of all bob weights was added to increase stick force per g.
Abidane’s comments would be most welcome. The ex Charlie Church Hurricane was interesting in the longitudinal plane from my discussions with Dave Southwood at the time. I had not really thought about cofg position with the Mk1/Sea Hurri, but I suppose it is obvious that a Mk1 would be further aft only by nature of the MerlinIII being less heavy/different moment arm to the XX! Thanx to all for getting my grey cells working on a fixed wing issue and its relation to my beloved Hurri!!! Makes a change from me doing stab & control for helios!!!

Thanks Mr B.

Never mind the hook. There’s a load of other old ironmongery called catapult spools down by the rad. I do have pics of the hook and spools somewhere – not to hand I’m afraid.

Having thought about this, I wonder why the testers didn’t pick up on the aft c of g before the first flight test? Maybe Sea Hurries ‘were like that’ and the flight weights and balances said aft c of g was acceptable? Dunno, just thinking. I’m sure someone who kno will be along soon. 😉

JDK, thanks for the info on the hook.

It was in an article by Airbedane that mentioned the CoG problems and replacement with a fibreglass one.

I must admit, all the times I’ve looked around the aircraft at OW, I’ve never taken a good look at the hook!

Rocketeer, interesting what you say about the Hurricane having neutral stablity. It seems that the Sea Hurricane didn’t as in the same article IIRC, Airbedane mentions that the Pilots Notes for the Sea Hurricane hint at instablity with phrases such as “It is difficult to trim the aircraft to fly hands off” & “the aircraft will tighten and tends to ‘tuck in’ during turns.

I haven’t got the article to hand, but recall that he said this was true of Z7015 without the original hook and it’s gear fitted. Regarding the ‘tuck in’ during turns, from what I’ve heard, the land based equivilant had this problem too, and come to think of it, I recall John Allison mentioning on an airshow video that the Hurricane was dynamically unstable in pitch.

It would be interesting to hear what Airbedane has to say about how the Vacher Hurricane handles (I’m sure he’s flown it), which is supposed to have a more aft CoG than other flying examples because of all the stock military equipment and guns etc.

Cheers

Paul

Hi Rocketeer,
You are right about Hurricanes, but this one gave the test pilot a very nasty surprise on it’s first fligh – c of g was way aft.

This is a ‘first generation’ or ‘second generation’ hook, and the ‘a-frame’ type was released and dropped under gravity. some I think could be retracted, by winding in a wire(?) but often when released, that was it until back on deck. Happy to be corrected on this though!

I’m not directly involved with IWM or Shuttleworth,but I’m certain the collection now have full ownership,and have done for a few years. IIRC,when she was first flown she proved to be rather tail-heavy so the operating gear for the hook was removed,so I don’t think the hook has ever been used since her service days. Am I right in thinking it’s the type of hook that can only be retracted by hand once the aircraft is on the deck/ground? Would plow quite a furrow in the OW turf! 🙂

Hurricanes tend to be neutrally stable longitudinally!! I thought I’d seen a phot of the hook down…but I am getting old now!!! Lots of modern aircraft with hooks for RHAGs have to have the hook ‘retracted’ on the ground. I should know about the hook, tho’ my hurri speciality is in Mk1 & 2 aircraft

2. Was the working arrester hook ever used in displays, I can’t remember!

It was intended to. The type of hook was designed to be released and drop down – there was (originally) no retraction available.

The restoration team told us that they’d fitted a jack to enable the hook to be raised again (it may have powered it down as well, I can’t remember).

However, after the first flight the aft c of g problems mean that all the ‘extra’ gear was taken out around the hook, making it fixed. I also heard that a fibreglass hook was fitted, but I’m not sure if that’s correct or if it’s still fitted.

I therefore believe it’s never flown in Shuttleworth ownership with the hook down. I certainly don’t recall any pictures, and I’ve been looking.

There was an article about all this in Warbirds Worldwide when the Hurricane had first flown by a GR Brown and a JD Kightly, wasn’t there? 😉

I don’t know the answers to the other questions, but I believe Ant is correct about the tailhook in that the original unit was causing problems with tail heaviness so it was removed and a fibre glass replica was used instead. And he is right about it not being able to be retracted in flight.

As for an aerobatic routine, well I guess the aircraft could fly one if desired but as it is powered by a rather rare Merlin III, I suspect that the pilots and engineers like to see it operated within it’s limits to prolong it’s life and that the higher power settings needed for an aerobtic display might not be to good for it in the long run. And maybe the airframe still has a CoG that is slightly aft of what’s acceptable for an aerobatic routine.

I’m sure Airbedane can answer that one for us. 😉

Oh, I’ve just remembered, I think Steve McManus was involved in the rebuild and looks after Z7015 today.

Cheers

Paul

I’m not directly involved with IWM or Shuttleworth,but I’m certain the collection now have full ownership,and have done for a few years. IIRC,when she was first flown she proved to be rather tail-heavy so the operating gear for the hook was removed,so I don’t think the hook has ever been used since her service days. Am I right in thinking it’s the type of hook that can only be retracted by hand once the aircraft is on the deck/ground? Would plow quite a furrow in the OW turf! 🙂

It is now some ten years ago that Z7015 took to the air again following its nine year restoration. Does anyone know the answer to the following questions.

1. Is the IWM still involved with its operation albeit based at Old Warden.

2. Was the working arrester hook ever used in displays, I can’t remember!

3. How much work would be needed on the airframe, to enable full display flights with gentle aerobatics to be flown.

4. Did the Sea Hurricane restoration team disband or do they still look after Z7015 today.

Septic.

1. Dont know but doubt it (except p’raps the Hurri has an obligation to be at some shows
2. Seem to recall a shot of it down
3. None, but remember she has a Merlin III with all the limitations that incurs (i.e. about 300 hp less, inverted lims etc). I am pleased to see this babe displayed how she is at the moment.
4. Not sure the team leader is still with us. Great chap he is.