Hawker Hurricane

This article was originally written and submitted as part of a Canada 150 Project, the Innovation Storybook, to crowdsource stories of Canadian innovation with partners across Canada. The content has since been migrated to Ingenium’s Channel, a digital hub featuring curated content related to science, technology and innovation.

Jun 30, 2016

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Aviation

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By: Ingenium – Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

Cover of Canadian Aviation magazine featuring the first Canadian-made Hawker Hurricane, February 1940. Source: Ingenium

The Hawker Hurricane gained fame for its role in defeating the German air force during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Robust and rugged, the Hurricane was a single-seat monoplane launched in 1935. It was an aircraft of technological firsts: it was the first Royal Air Force (RAF) monoplane to feature an enclosed canopy and retractable landing gear. The heavily-armed Hurricane was also fast and became the first RAF aircraft to fly over 485 km/h in level flight. Admired for its ability to operate in a variety of tough environments, the Hurricane was deployed in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Canada played an important role in wartime Hurricane production. More than 1,400 Hurricanes were built in Fort William, Ontario, between 1940 and 1943 under the supervision of Elizabeth “Elsie” MacGill, the first female aeronautical engineer in the world. Canadian pilots, fighting in both the RAF and the Royal Canadian Air Force, flew the aircraft in thousands of battle sorties.

The Canadian Car and Foundry factory in Fort William, Ontario, produced more than 1,400 Hurricanes under Elsie MacGill’s close supervision.

First Hawker Hurricane made by Canadian Car and Foundry Co. Ltd. Source: CAVM 17351

Elizabeth Muriel Gregory “Elsie” MacGill, chief engineer at the Canadian Car and Foundry Co. Ltd. Source: CAVM 16035

Larry Philpott and Arthur Bryant (Art) Wahlroth (right), posing with a Hawker Hurricane. Source: CAVM 27943

Hawker Hurricane built by Canadian Car and Foundry Co. Ltd, 1978. Source: CAVM 13237

Crowd surrounding the first Canadian-made Hawker Hurricane. Source: CAVM 17359

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The Canadian flag, set against the backdrop of a clear, blue lake and mountains in Banff National Park, Alberta.

Oh Canada! Let’s celebrate Canada Day together

McIntosh Red Apple

Propeller model used by W. Rupert Turnbull in 1923. Source: Ingenium 1967.1152

Variable Pitch Propeller

Silver Dart

Boys sitting on top of telephone booths, ca.1950. Toronto, Ontario.

Hand Telephone

“Worth Defending” – A brief look at the 1954 advertising campaign of a major Canadian aircraft manufacturing firm, Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, part 4

The advertisement “La liberté d’expression,” in English “Freedom of Speech,” published by Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, as part of its 1954 Worth Defending advertising campaign. Anon, “Canadair Limited.” La Presse, 13 April 1954, 25.

“Worth Defending” – A brief look at the 1954 advertising campaign of a major Canadian aircraft manufacturing firm, Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, part 3

“Freedom of Worship,” one of the advertisements issued by Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, as part of its 1954 Worth Defending advertising campaign. Anon., “Canadair Limited.” The Vancouver Province, 5 January 1954, 5.

“Worth Defending” – A brief look at the 1954 advertising campaign of a major Canadian aircraft manufacturing firm, Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, part 2

One of the advertisements issued by Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, as part of its 1954 Worth Defending advertising campaign. Anon., “Canadair Limited.” Toronto Daily Star, 6 October 1954, 4.

“Worth Defending” – A brief look at the 1954 advertising campaign of a major Canadian aircraft manufacturing firm, Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, part 1

A block of photographs showing some of the people involved in the bombing of beluga whales in the estuary and gulf of the St. Lawrence River. Anon., “La chasse aux marsouins [sic]. » Le Devoir, 15 August 1929, 6.

“The bomb that will kill the porpoise” – A shocking use of air power in interwar Québec: The bombing of the beluga whales of the St. Lawrence River, part 4

A typical pod of beluga whales, Hudson Bay, near Churchill, Manitoba, July 1999. Ansgar Walk, via Wikipedia.

“The bomb that will kill the porpoise” – A shocking use of air power in interwar Québec: The bombing of the beluga whales of the St. Lawrence River, part 3

The Franco Canadian physician / pilot Louis Cuisinier and one of the 45 or so kilogram (100 or so pounds) handmade aerial bombs with which he hoped to kill beluga whales. Anon., “La bombe qui tuera le marsouin.” La Presse, 5 August 1929, 11.

“The bomb that will kill the porpoise” – A shocking use of air power in interwar Québec: The bombing of the beluga whales of the St. Lawrence River, part 1

Several exhibition display cases, panels, and screens in a large, brightly-lit air hangar-style room with a high ceiling and tall, exposed metal walls.

Diane Pitre and Steven P. Deschamps’ LGBT Purge Stories Told at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum

An Institute for Aerospace Research staff member conducting an inspection on a Shuttle Remote Manipulator System, or Canadarm, around 2000. National Research Council Canada.

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$A technician conducting the first corrosion detection trial, on a Boeing Model 727 test airframe, using a Diffracto DAIS-500 non destructive testing equipment, 1992. National Research Council Canada.$