Hurricane Mk 1 Aerial Wire

[Watcher]

I've been looking at Hurricane pictures before starting my new mould Airfix 1:48 aircraft. I haven't decided on a particular aircraft yet so haven't looked for specific pictures yet. I bought a set of CMK control surfaces and the fin does not include the short mast for the aerial wire. Do I presume that early aircraft were fitted with the wire and later aircraft were not? I understand that that was what happened with the Spitfire.

 

TIA
 

Matthew

[gingerbob]

I'm not as up on Hurris as Spits, but I would expect that you are correct- the wire was necessary for the earlier radio, and when VHF was fitted (beginning around August '40?) the antenna was buried within the mast, and no wire from mast to rudder was required.

 

bob

[Lawzer]

sorry - wandering off topic

Would this be the same for all allied aircraft post August 40?

[Graham Boak]

Not immediately, because it would depend upon the basic radio network being set up in the theatre and enough units being built for the entire air force.  Tropical Mk.Vs were being delivered with the early radio, although to be honest the aerial isn't visible in most photos (if any). 

[Lawzer]

I've often wondered why some aircraft had the wire and others did not.

[Selwyn]

5 hours ago, Lawzer said:

I've often wondered why some aircraft had the wire and others did not.

IIRC aircraft fitted with the HF TR9 radio had Arial wires, the later VHF set did not have the wire just the antenna.

 

Selwyn