MARCH IO,

1938.

FLIGHT.

223

transparent sliding roof. The new service blind-flying panel is specified. In view of the fact that there has lately been some heated talk about delay in the introduction of fighter monoplanes into the Service, and considering some of the fantastic reports of foreign equipment, Flight feels that it should be made clear that America has only a very sinall number of comparable (but poorly armed) Seversky machines actually in service, and that none of the new Curtiss monoplanes have been delivered; that France has very few, if any, Morane 405s with the squadrons; that Italy's single-seater fighters are mainly biplanes which compare unfavourably even with the Gauntlet, not to mention the Gladiator, and that, although Germany is known to have a number of Messerschmitts with Junkers engines on charge, the performance and armament of these machines probably show up rather poorly against the Hurricane. So we may be proud of No. 111 Squadron. That the personnel is equal to the material was readily apparent at Northolt last Friday afternoon when the complete squadron demonstrated formation flying. One was particularly impressed by the very reasonable landing speed of the Hurricanes, though the take-off did seem on the long side, particularly where formations were concerned. The wheels disappear without fuss, and once
a

A fine study of perspective is offered by this "shot" of an echelon formation byHurricanes of No. i n (F) Squadron. The flying view opposite bears further testimony to the efficiency of the pilots

everything is snug"the machine is fit and ready to challenge anything with wings. A demonstration by an individual machine, though not aerobatic in nature, was a revelation of manceuvrability and awesome speed. One turn, particularly, must have generated a formidable amount of -"g." It seemed to belie the story that the Hurricane makes a diameter of 3,000ft. in a loop. -