Airfix: Hawker Sea Fury FB.II in 1:48

The Hawker Sea Fury is a British all‑metal fighter‑bomber developed at the end of the Second World War. The prototype made its first flight on 21 February 1945, and it entered service with the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) later the same year. It was powered by a strong Bristol Centaurus 18 engine producing 2,480 hp.

The Sea Fury was the last classic piston‑engine fighter of the Royal Navy, representing the culmination of development from the Hawker Typhoon and Hawker Tempest. It was originally designed to meet RAF requirements, but by 1943, work also began on a naval version for the Royal Navy, with the first Sea Fury prototype flying two years later. The initial prototype did not have folding wings; after appropriate modifications, an order for 200 aircraft was placed.

After the war, further improvements were introduced to optimize carrier operation, and by early 1947, the aircraft received full approval for naval service. The first production version was the Mk.X fighter, but the Mk.XI (FB11) fighter‑bomber variant entered production shortly after. This version remained in service until 1953. A two‑seat training version, the T.Mk.20, was also built.

Sea Fury aircraft in the FB11 version served in the Korean War, where one of them famously shot down a Soviet MiG‑15—a remarkable achievement for a piston‑engine fighter against a jet. The Mk.60 and Mk.61 were export versions delivered to Pakistan. In total, 864 aircraft of all variants were produced.

Technical specifications (FB11 version):

• Length: 10.6 m

• Wingspan: 11.7 m

• Height: 4.9 m

• Maximum speed: 740 km/h

• Rate of climb: 14.2 m/s

• Maximum range: 1127 km

• Service ceiling: 10,900 m

• Armament:

  • Fixed: 4 × Hispano Mk.V 20 mm cannons

  • External: up to 908 kg of bombs or unguided rockets