Howard Pardue's Hawker Fury FB.11

Howard Pardue is the owner and operator of this beautifully restored Hawker Fury FB.11 that is available for airshows, flybys and film and for a 10-15 minute warbird aerobatic airshow routine throughout Western and Central USA and is a member of the United States Navy Legacy Flight program, one of the most popular airshow aerial displays. Howard's Fury is also a regular unlimited racer at the Reno National Championship Air Races.

One of the fastest piston engine aircraft ever built, Hawker's magnificent Sea Fury/Fury has always had the ability to inspire awe amongst everyone from airport kids to jet fighter pilots. It continues to attract fans at airshows and air races around the world and leaves most other aircraft of the era well behind.

Hawker was designated to work on the land-based version, the Fury, and responsibility for the naval conversion was assigned to Boulton-Paul Aircraft Ltd. In April of 1944 contracts were placed for 200 aircraft for each the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm. The first Sea Fury prototype flew on February 21, 1945, but the first full naval version with folding wings did not fly until October 12, 1947. Armament consisted of 4 x 20mm Hispano wing cannons and it was capable of carrying a mix of 1000 lb bombs, 12 x 3 inch rocket projectiles and napalm tanks.

The Sea fury was to see significant involvement in the Korean War, mainly in the ground attack role alongside the Fairey Firefly. The aircraft also had the distinction of shooting down a Mig-15, the first by a piston engine fighter, this being achieved by an 802 Squadron aircraft flown by Lt. P. Carmichael on August 9, 1952.

Despite the RAF canceling its orders for the Hawker Fury, a 'denavalized' Sea Fury, lacking
catapult launch hooks, arrestor hook, etc., the aircraft was built in small numbers for the Air Forces of Iraq, Egypt and Pakistan.

Howard's Fury was first flown on October 04, 1948 as ISS25 and was initially stored until November 07, 1949 after which it departed for Iraq and served as '255'. The fury was recovered by Jurist and Tallichet, the aircraft was was stored dismantled at Orlando, Florida until 1982 before going to Nyack until 1984 when it was purchased by Howard Pardue.

The Fury was transported to Breckenridge, Texas and given a complete rebuild by Ezell Aviation. All British systems were replaced with their American counterparts, a Wright R-3350 installed and the cockpit modified to include a second seat under a larger bubble canopy.

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