I do have a question regarding the Hurricanes rear framework seen in the last two pictures. I have always been under the impression that the Hurricane was constructed of wood covered in fabric but the framework visible appears to be metal. Is this a modern touch to offer increased safety and a longer life to the airframe or a clever use of silver/grey paint?
Well no – the original Hurricane rear fuselage design is a girder like (triangulated) construction of Dural and steel tubes braced with stainless steel flying wires. The wooden parts of the structure are the frames and stringers which give the fuselage its shape which are fixed to/around this structural frame. This is in turn is fabric covered to provide the external shape. The upper parts behind the cockpit (turtle deck) are made of an an all wood construction and the removable belly panels are also plywood, all fabric finished. The front cowling parts are all alloy constuction similar to a Spitfire. In short – there is a bit of everything! G-HHII is being restored precisely to original specification, apart from one or two small changes for safety such as modern radios.
There is little you can do or would want to do to significanlty enhance the structural strength or longevity of a Hurricane airframe as its already very over engineered.
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