HURRICANE Mk XII

The Vintage Wings Hurricane XII is painted in the markings of P2961, a Hurricane I flown by Flying Officer William Lidstone “Willie” McKnight, DFC and Bar, a Canadian in the Royal Air Force, Canada's most outstanding fighter pilot of the first 18 months of the Second World War. McKnight, from Alberta, joined the RAF before the outset of the Second World War and fought in the Battle of France, Dunkirk, and the Battle of Britain. He was lost in an enemy engagement in January 1941 over the English Channel. He has no known grave. McKnight Boulevard in Calgary, Alberta is named in his honour.

Click here to learn more about Willie McKnight

The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s–40s that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Hurricane inflicted 60 percent of the losses sustained by the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, and fought in all the major theatres of the Second World War. The prototype Hurricane K5083 performed its maiden flight on 6 November 1935. In June 1936, the Hurricane went into production for the Air Ministry; it entered squadron service on 25 December 1937. Its manufacture and maintenance was eased by using conventional construction methods so that squadrons could perform many major repairs without external support. The Hurricane was rapidly procured prior to the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, when the RAF had 18 Hurricane-equipped squadrons in service. The aircraft was relied on to defend against German aircraft operated by the Luftwaffe, including dogfighting with Messerschmitt Bf 109s in multiple theatres of action.The Hurricane was developed through several versions, into bomber-interceptors, fighter-bombers, and ground support aircraft as well as fighters. Versions designed for the Royal Navy known as the Sea Hurricane had modifications enabling operation from ships. Some were converted as catapult-launched convoy escorts. By the end of production in July 1944, 14,487 Hurricanes had been completed in Britain, Canada, Belgium and Yugoslavia.

Type: High Altitude Defensive Fighter
First Flight: November, 1937 (Hurricane I)
Total Production (All Marks): 16,000+
Wingspan: 40 ft
Engine: 1,300 hp Packard Merlin 29
Maximum Speed: 340 mph
Manufactured: 1937-1945
Manufacturer: This Mk XII was built by Canadian Car and Foundry, Fort William, Ontario
Serial Number: RCAF 5703
Current Registration: CF-TPM
Present Markings: RAF 242 “Canadian” Squadron, RAF Serial number P2961