104 FLYPAST May 2018
MUSEUMS BROOKLANDS
from different eras. Many of these
designs are Hawker-based – the
company having had a strong
presence here and at nearby
Dunsfold, with Brooklands being
the aerodrome for the main Hawker
factory in Kingston-upon-Thames
until late 1942.
It’s often forgotten that the
first Hurricane, K5083, took its
maiden flight from Brooklands on
November 6, 1935, in the hands of
Flt Lt ‘George’ Bulman. The site was
also the main production centre
for Hurricanes until it moved to
Hawker’s other facility at Langley,
near Slough.
The Hurricane is represented
in the Flight Shed by partially
restored Mk.IIa Z2389 which,
after seeing service in the UK,
was sent to Russia as part of the
lend-lease programme before
being shot down on June 20, 1942.
Recovered, the wreck returned to
the UK in 1997 from St Petersburg.
Restoration began in 1999 and is
still ongoing.
Also present in the Flight Shed
is Hawker Siddeley Harrier T.52
G-VTOL/ZA250, the demonstration
aircraft for the type. As with many
of the aircraft at Brooklands, it’s
open for cockpit visits, and hadattracted quite a crowd on the day
of our visit.
Other exhibits in the hangar
include the superb Hawker Fury
I replica ‘K5673’ and a complete
Hawker Hunter F.51 – E-421,
formerly of the Royal Danish Air
Force.
It’s worth remembering that all
four aircraft – Fury, Hurricane,
Hunter and Harrier – came from
the fertile mind of Sir Sydney
Camm and illustrates the rapid
progress British aviation made in a
relatively small timeframe: just 29
years separate the first flights of
the oldest and youngest designs.The Aircraft Factory has given
Brooklands a unique selling point
which is of interest not only to the
aviation enthusiast but the casual
observer and child as well. By parts
educational and informative, it
also manages to be moving in its
showcasing of ‘R for Robert’ and
serves as a bittersweet reminder
of the legacy of a once great name
in British aviation. You’re urged
to pay a visit when you can – it’s
worth the time.FlyPast thanks Brooklands Museum,
Julian Temple and Paul Stewart for
their help with this feature.Hawker Hurricane IIa Z2389 is a star
attraction within Brooklands’ Flight Shed.The interior of ‘R for Robert’. Note the fl are
chute and limited space available.
Currently under construction in the Flight Shed is this reconstructed Wellington fuselage and
cockpit section using many original components. When complete it will be a valuable educational
tool as well as a popular attraction for visitors to walk through.Hawker Hunter F.51 is painted as XF368 of 4
Squadron on one side. The other is painted in
primer to illustrate part of the assembly process.“The Hurricane is represented in the Flight Shed by partially restored Mk.IIa
Z2389 which, after seeing service in the UK, was sent to Russia as part of the
lend-lease programme”Brooklands Museum can be
contacted via
http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com
or phone 01932 857381