HAWKER FURY I
- Conceived during 1942 as a 'lightweight' development of the Hawker
Tempest, the Hawker P. 1026 complied with Specification F.2/43. Two
prototypes ordered during 1943, plus three airframes ordered as Tempest
prototypes reassigned to this programme (but only one completed). Later
named Hawker Fury, the P. 1026 featured Tempest outer wing panels without
a centre section, and a new small fuselage designed around a Centaurus
or Griffon engine. Prototype (NX798) with Centaurus XII first flown September
1, 1944, and another (NX802) with Centaurus XV on July 25, 1945. Prototype
originally planned as Tempest III (LA610) flown as Hawker Fury on November
27, 1944, with Griffon 85 and six-bladed contraprop; also flown, early
1945, with Centaurus XV and later in 1945 with 3,055 hp Sabre VII, with
which a speed of 483 mph (777 km/h) at 18,500 ft (5,639 m) achieved post-war.
Further development halted by war's end.
Data for Centaurus XV: Max
speed, 455 mph (732 km/h) at 24,000 ft (7,315 m). Time to 20,000 ft (6,100
m), 5.5 min. Service ceiling, 43,500 ft (13,260 m). Empty weight, 8,615
Ib (3,911 kg). Gross weight, 11,675 Ib (5,300 kg). Span, 38ft 43/4 in
(11.69 m). Length, 34 ft 7 in (10.54 m). Wing area, 284.5 sq ft (26.43
m2).
