Fighter Planes Overview

Since the beginning of WW2 fighter planes have played a critical role in British aeronautics. During the Battle of Britain they were a vital force preventing the German Luftwaffe taking control of the air over England, thereby forcing Hitler to postpone his plans to invade Britain. If it weren't for the valour and courage of the pilots of the fighter planes of the RAF the outcome of the Second World War could have been very different.

First developed during World War One, but not in widespread use then, fighter planes only really came into their own during World War Two, where they played an essential role in the war defence. The two main fighter planes in 1940 were the Hurricane and the Spitfire, then considered two of the best fighter planes in the world. These two special fighter planes are preserved in exhibitions in various London museums including the RAF Museum at Hendon.

The Spitfire is described as the most famous fighter plane in British aeronautics history and although there were less of them about than the Hurricane, the Spitfire was immediately taken into the hearts of the British people. During the summer of 1940 the frenetic Battle of Britain raged, and Hurricane fighter planes were continuously in the air accounting for most of the destruction of enemy fighter planes. The RAF had 497 Hurricanes at the outbreak of WW2, and by July 1940 there were nineteen Spitfire squadrons. Popular morale was strong and helped sustain the pilots of the fighter planes in their courageous activities in the skies above Britain.

The arrival of winter and the fact that the Germans had lost 2,375 fighter planes and the British only 800, made the feared Nazi invasion seem more unlikely. Germany had not accomplished air supremacy as she had hoped. The aeronautics of the fighter planes of the RAF had changed the tempo and course of the war irrevocably. Britain was still free.

RAF Museum is one of the London museums that specialise in recreating scenes, situations and atmospheres through special effects to bring the past into sharp focus. Visit our special interactive show 'Our Finest Hour' where through film, sound, lights and audio you can experience the power and magic of British fighter planes at work in the air during the Battle of Britain. Pronounced by the RAF as 'the most important event in Royal Air Force history,' the Battle of Britain is a truly momentous event in British aeronautics, and is commemorated in the Battle of Britain Collection at Hendon, dedicated to everyone who fought.

Smaller than many other types of plane, the fighter plane is built for a high degree of manoeuvrability and speed. In order for it to complete its main mission it is also fitted with the most sophisticated, up-to-date tracking devices, radar and weapons to monitor and bring down enemy fighter planes. In modern times there are two main types of fighter plane, a smaller type comprising the mainstay of fighter formations, and a larger kind that can function from longer distances. The main direction in the development of fighter planes today are decreased visibility in radar (stealth) and increased speed and manoeuvrability.