| Hawker Hurricane PZ865 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Hawker Hurricane IIC |
| Serial | PZ865 |
| First flight | 22 July 1944 |
| Owners and operators | Hawker Aircraft Limited Royal Air Force |
| In service | 1972-2009 |
| Fate | Airworthy |
| Preserved at | Based at RAF Coningsby |
Hawker Hurricane PZ865 is a single-engined Second World War fighter operated by the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. It was the last of 14,533 Hurricanes produced[1] and is now flown as an airborne memorial.
Named The Last of the Many serial number PZ865 first flew at Langley, Buckinghamshire on 22 July 1944 and was retained by Hawker Aircraft for trials work.
It moved in 1950 to the Hawker factory at Dunsfold Aerodrome where it was given the civil registration G-AMAU on 1 May 1950.[2] It was flown into second place at the 1950 King's Cup Air Race by Group Captain Peter Townsend.[1] At this time it was painted in Hawker Aircraft's dark blue colour scheme with gold lettering and lining. The aircraft also appeared in the Battle of Britain film in 1968.[1]
In 1972 the aircraft was refurbished and presented by Hawkers to the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight then based at RAF Coltishall, reverting to its RAF serial as identity.[1][3]
Currently painted as code JX-E to represent "Night Reaper" flown by 1 Squadron fighter ace Flt Lt Karel Kuttelwascher DFC during night intruder operations from RAF Tangmere.
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