During WW2 Hurricanes were amongst the aircraft used by RAF Meteorological Flights and Meteorological Reconnaissance squadrons to gather weather data directly above a number of UK and Mediterranean airfields. I would very much like to find a photograph of one of these aircraft, but unfortunately they appear to be as rare as hens’ teeth.
I have photos of Spitfires which were used in a similar role, but the instrumentation was different for the two types. Whereas those on the Spitfire were located under the starboard wing, those on the Hurricane were fitted in the starboard ammunition tray (?) and projected above the upper wing surface.
Would anyone be able to help – or provide a pointer to a possible source please?
Brian
By: Trolly Aux - 29th May 2012 at 18:59
wasn’t there a bright orange Hurricane used for MET work? I would love to see a picture of her. Imagine the purists faces if one wore those colors for an airshow!
I thought the orange Hurricanes were used for Ack Ack calibration
By: Lyffe - 29th May 2012 at 18:51
Not, that I’m aware of, during the war SS; all were in normal wartime colours.
Good story though – where did you hear it?
B
By: SADSACK - 29th May 2012 at 17:45
re;
wasn’t there a bright orange Hurricane used for MET work? I would love to see a picture of her. Imagine the purists faces if one wore those colors for an airshow!
By: Lyffe - 29th May 2012 at 17:09
Apologies if I misled you Graham, you’ve described the instrumentation far better than me, and I think the description you’ve given for the Russian aircraft fits with RAF practice.
I’ve never been able to discover why the RAF didn’t adopt the same instrumentation for the Hurricane that was used on Spitfires (basically an electrical resistance thermometer that could be read from a dial in the cockpit) but that’s another matter.
Peter Rackliff (Even the birds were walking) is a good friend but even he’s stumped on this one.
I did try the IWM catalogue but that seems impossible to navigate – and most of the ‘images’ just come up with a blank square. (There again it might be me!)
The IWM has some good images of Duxford Met Flight in the old catalogue but darned if I can find them now.
Brian
Edit
Just found your photo Graham; I’m afraid the instrumentation is not like that used by the RAF, but thanks for the suggestion. I found the discourse on Russian aviation meteorology very interesting and something to add to my archive.
By: Graham Boak - 29th May 2012 at 16:44
There is a photo (PZ830 2M-D) in Even The Birds Were Walking, but as this is an aerial view of it inverted on a beach, I’m afraid it does not meet your requirements.
Comments about these flights always discuss the need for visual measurements, would would seem to be negated by the fittings you describe.
There is a photo of a Russian Hurricane used for met. flights postwar with a number of aerials/sensors protruding from the cannon positions, but this is clearly different from the British installations. I believe this was on the sovietwarplanes.com discussion boards, but can’t find it from a quick look. No doubt others on the board will remember it and find it for you, if you are interested.
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May 29, 2012 at 2:59 pm