Having looked more closely at the Finnish Hurricane, it is apparent that the wheels are no longer fitted, just skis : the leg length appears correct without said wheels. So the question would now be what would be the speed performance if flown as is with u/c legs down all the time? It must be significant when such things as non-flush rivetting can have such a detrimental effect on high performance (of their time) fighter aircraft?
Kinda answers part of my former post question, I suppose… should have gone to Sp@csavers!

Brian