IWM Duxford announces Hurricane exhibition

Seven examples of Hawker fighter to be showcased in AirSpace building

Four of the Hurricanes due for inclusion in Duxford's new exhibition on the Hawker fighter flying together at the venue's Battle of Britain Air Show in September: Hurricane Heritage's two-seater 'BE505' and Battle of Britain veteran MkI R4118 Jennifer Taylor's MkI P3717 and the Shuttleworth Collection's Sea Hurricane Ib Z7015. — Four of the Hurricanes due for inclusion in Duxford's new exhibition on the Hawker fighter flying together at the venue's Battle of Britain Air Show in September: Hurricane Heritage's two-seater 'BE505' and Battle of Britain veteran MkI R4118, Jennifer Taylor's MkI P3717 and the Shuttleworth Collection's Sea Hurricane Ib Z7015. BEN DUNNELL

Following the success of last winter’s Spitfire: Evolution of an Icon exhibition, IWM Duxford has announced that it will be staging a follow-up in the form of Hurricane: Unsung Hero. Opening in the Conservation Hall part of Duxford’s AirSpace hangar on 27 December and running through until 19 February 2023, this will bring together seven examples of the Hawker fighter, a total that represents just under half of the current airworthy population. Aside from the six Hurricanes that are either based or regularly seen at Duxford, among them the Hurricane Heritage-operated two-seater ‘BE505’, a seventh will be present in the form of the Shuttleworth Collection’s Sea Hurricane Ib, Z7015, from Old Warden.

**The Hurricane Heritage-operated two-seat example is based at White Waltham, but spends a lot of time at Duxford.** BEN DUNNELL

Admission to Hurricane: Unsung Hero will be included in the regular museum entry price. In addition, a variety of related activities are set to take place for an additional fee: 60-minute guided tours by IWM experts on selected dates in January and February, costing £15 per person; a display by Airfix on 15 January at which will be explained the research, design and production processes that go into making the company’s model aircraft, this for £30 per person; a Duxford in a Different Light photographic event after-hours on 4 February, at which the Hurricanes will be specially illuminated, for £50 per person; and the Hurricane Conference on 18 February, featuring several guest speakers, costing £40 per person.

**The Shuttleworth Sea Hurricane will spend the exhibition period at Duxford, where its restoration to flying condition was completed back in 1995.** BEN DUNNELL

Meanwhile, IWM Duxford’s Conservation in Action Hangar — often still known as Hangar 5 — will reopen to the public on 17 November after eight months of refurbishment, allowing a close-up view of current projects including work on the museum’s Shackleton MR3 and Heinkel He 162.

For more information, see the IWM Duxford website.

Achieving a long-held ambition of flying in a Hurricane