The Hawker Hurricane was developed to meet a 1934 request by the Royal Air Force for a single-seat fighter aircraft. The design by Hawker was in many ways a transition aircraft in that it had many features of earlier biplane fighters, including wooden and fabric construction. The Hurricane also had many modern features, including a powerful Rolls-Royce engine, retractable landing gear and a monoplane wing design. The prototype was first flown in November 1936 and the first Hurricane squadron was formed in December 1937. The RCAF received its first Hurricanes in August 1939.

The Hurricane was used in almost every theatre of operations during the Second World War, including North Africa, Italy, Russia, Asia and Canada. In Canada, the RCAF used the Hurricane for defensive patrols on both coasts beginning in 1942. The Hurricane was also used as an advanced fighter trainer.

The Museum’s Hurricane is a full-size fibreglass replica. It has been with the National Air Force Museum since 2004 and was donated by George Weston Ltd. with special contributions from Tony Ditheridge and the Canadian Fighter Pilots Association. It is painted to depict the Hurricane flown by Toronto-born Flight Lieutenant B.D. “Dal” Russel during the Battle of Britain. Flight Lieutenant Russel, during the course of the War, made 286 operational sorties in three operational tours and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Distinguished Flying Cross and bar.