The Hawker Hurricane

The Hawker Hurricane. . , This full size replica is a lasting memorial to Windsor resident Sir Sydney Camm CBE FRAeS (1893-1966). It bears the markings of an aircraft flown in the Battle of Britain by Squadron Leader John Grandy who, as Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Grandy GCB GCVO KBE DSO KStJ, was Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle from 1978-88., Sir Sydney Camm CBE FRAeS , Sydney Camm attended the Royal Free School in Bachelors Acre. He was a keen model aircraft designer who sold his wares to the boys at Eton College, delivered under cover of darkness to avoid detection! , During world war one he joined the GH Martinsdale Aeroplane Company and then, in 1922, the Hawker Engineering Company at Canbury Park Road in Kingston, rising from Senior Draughtsman to Chief Designer. , Many of his designs can be seen at the RAF Museum in Hendon and there are also small displays in the Windsor and Royal Borough Museum at the Guildhall, Windsor. , Sydney Camm was appointed CBE in 1941 and knighted in 1953. He became President and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He is recognised as being one of the most prolific aircraft designers of all time., Sir Sydney Camm's Aircraft , The Hurricane,. Camm's best known design, first flew in 1935 and entered RAF service in 1937. Powered by the Rolls Royce Merlin engine, it was the first RAF monoplane fighter with an enclosed cockpit and retractable undercarriage. It was resilient, easily repairable, a stable firing platform, and highly manoeuvrable. In the 1940 Battle of Britain Hurricanes shot down more enemy aircraft than the combined totals of all other aircraft and ground forces. It was the only fighter aircraft to serve in every British theatre during world war two. Over 14,000 were built, many at nearby Langley, and it remained in RAF front line service until 1947. The last Hurricane built was PZ865, which still flies today with the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. , The Hunter was another famous Camm design. The prototype first flew in 1951 and, in 1953, a modified prototype flown by test pilot Neville Duke broke the world speed record at 727mph. It served with the RAF until the 1990s. , The Harrier was Camm's final design, and the P1127 prototype flew in 1960. The Harrier remained in RAF/RN service until 2010, and is still flown by the US Marines as the AV-88., Principal Supporters of the Camm Memorial , The principal supporters of the Camm Memorial are the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and the Sir Sydney Camm Commemorative Society. , In addition, The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers of London (Registered Charity No 286521) has established a memorial aerospace engineering scholarship at Kingston University, London. The Coachmakers Charitable Trust helps aspiring engineers in both aerospace and automotive industries make a start on their careers. Please visit www.sirsydneycamm.org for details of how to contribute.