Lanterna Rally

Author: Air Ministry

Publisher:

Published: 2019-04

Total Pages: 36

ISBN-13: 9781090840486

Summer 1940, the Battle of Britain has just begun, you've just gained your RAF 'wings' and been selected to fly fighters - and one of the most rugged and successful fighter aircraft in the world at that, the Hawker Hurricane mark I. A slim booklet is pressed into your hands by your squadron leader and you are told to study it before your first flight. This booklet, the Air Ministry's PILOT'S NOTES HURRICANE I AEROPLANE is reproduced in this short book for the first time since the Second World War. The Air Ministry published Pilots Notes on every type of aircraft the RAF flew. They were designed so the pilot could familiarise themselves with the aircraft's individual controls, flying characteristics and operational limits, rather like an owner's manual. PILOT'S NOTES HURRICANE I AEROPLANE was first issued just before the war and reprinted in March 1940 and was the manual used by Battle of Britain pilots.Where is the safety catch on your gun button?How long can you use the emergency boost on your Rolls Royce Merlin engine?How do you set the range on your gun sight?How do you know if the undercarriage of your Hurricane has successfully deployed?At what speed does the Hurricane stall at?ABOUT THE AUTHORThe Air Ministry was a department of the British government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the RAF. Pilot's Notes were in fact exact copies of sections from a far larger publication issued by the Air Ministry covering every aspect of the aeroplane including basic electrical system, details of the airframe, engine installation etc. These sections were used by the RAF ground crew 'erks' to help familiarise those whose job it was to keep such systems working. PILOT'S NOTES HURRICANE I AEROPLANE MERLIN II OR III ENGINE AP 1564A was first published in March 1939 but the edition used most widely by Battle of Britain pilots is the edition re-published here, the March 1940 reprint together with a handful of updates made during that summer of 1940. The updates were needed as the Hurricane was at the cutting edge of fighter aircraft design and small but significant upgrades were constantly being made to improve the Hurricane. In 1964 the Air Ministry was merged with the Admiralty and the War Office to form the Ministry of Defence.