LF363 airborne in formation with Gloster Javelin XH958 (furthest from the camera), Hawker Hunter XF511 and Supermarine Spitfire XVI TE476 during a publicity sortie from Odiham in May 1958.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gloster Javelin - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1951Hawker Hunter - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1951Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX / XVI - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

RICHARD PAVER photographed Sqn Ldr Clive Rowley flying RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Hawker Hurricane IIC LF363 just west of Coningsby, en route for Wakefield, in May 2001. The aircraft is painted in 56 Sqn colours and the personal markings of Plt Off Maurice Mounsdon, complete with “Oiseau de Morte” motif, an owl in an upturned horseshoe, on the fuselage beneath the cockpit. The unit’s official badge is a phoenix - particularly apt given LF363’s resurrection after a fire.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

RICHARD PAVER photographed Squadron Leader Clive Rowley flying the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Hawker Hurricane IIC LF363 near its Coningsby base in May 2001.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Hurricane LF363 engine-running at the BBMF’s Coningsby base in May 2001, with pilot Sqn Ldr Clive Rowley at the controls.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Another fine air-to-air portrait, taken in July 2001, when LF363 was being flown by Wg Cdr Nick Watson, OC Operations Wing at RAF Coningsby.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Taxying at Duxford’s Spitfire Jubilee show on July 10, 1988. Note the four-bladed propeller and NV-L codes.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Another Duxford appearance: as GN-A at the Classic Fighter Show on July 7, 1991, a few weeks before the crash.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

In a tribute to Hurricane night-fighter pilots, LF363 appeared in this dramatic matt-black scheme with the unit markings and VY-X codes of 85 Sqn in the 1980s.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Presenting its belly to the camera, LF363 peels away from Avro Anson VL349 in April 1968. In this view it is wearing a Battle of Britain colour scheme for the film of the same name.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Wearing an improved version of a Battle of Britain paint scheme (note the difference in proportions of the fuselage roundel), LF363 is seen here at Chivenor in August 1969.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

A confirmed airshow performer: LF363 flies past at the Biggin Hill Air Fair in 1976, wearing the same 242 Sqn LE-D fuselage codes as in the Sixties, but in a different lettering style.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Sqn Ldr Allan Martin, who was flying LF363 when its engine failed on September 11, 1991, en route between Coningsby and Peterborough on September 20, 1990.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

A very early photograph of Hurricane LF363 at Langley in 1949, in overall silver RAF colour scheme and with its four cannon fairings blanked off. At about this time it was the personal aircraft of Air Vice-Marshal S.F. Vincent.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

The Hurricane in formation with Spitfire PR.XIX PM631, up from Horsham St Faith in 1962 - at the time, these two aircraft made up the entire fleet of the BBMF. The exhaust stubs, correct here, were later changed; compare with the picture taken at Coltishall in 1965.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935Supermarine Spitfire FR.XIV / FR.XVIII / PR.XIX - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

The exhaust stubs were later changed; the picture taken at Coltishall in 1965.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

LF363 with slave engine fitted for installation of plumbing and wiring in July 1997. The wing leading edges are bristling with clamps holding the skins in place for riveting.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Looking forlorn: the burnt-out wreck of LF363 just after its arrival at Historic Flying’s Audley End restoration workshops in Essex in September 1994.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

This view of LF363 in September 1994 shows extensive areas of fire damage, especially to timber components. Note also the bent and peeled wings lying next to the fuselage.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Almost there: final fitting-out and painting under way, in readiness for its return to the air in September 1998.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

The road to recovery: the wing rebuild under way in a jig at Audley End in August 1996 - note the attached record sheets. Crash damage meant replacing part off the spar.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

The bare, newly-completed fuselage frame on slave wheels at Audley End in February 1997. New tubing replaced the original material, weakened by the crash and the fire.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Soon be following that Spitfire through the hangar doors: LF363 with wings and tailplane fitted, and standing on its own undercarriage, at Historic Flying in May 1997.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Above The original canopy frame and timber “doghouse”.
Below The new cockpit doghouse.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

The sad remains of Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Hurricane LF363 at Wittering on September 11, 1991, after an engine failure, inflight fire and forced landing while en route from Coningsby to Jersey. The pilot, Sqn Ldr Alan Martin, escaped with leg injuries. As we went to press an RAF board of enquiry was in progress, and the Flight was unable to say whether anything might be salvaged for a rebuild.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935