Sir Sydney Camm - Hawker Hurricane Multi-Cache
Sir Sydney Camm - Hawker Hurricane
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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I arrived in the office one Monday morning to see a replica Hawker Hurricane aircraft out of the window, which inspired me to place this cache. Happy hunting.
This simple multi will take you to the house where Sir Sydney Camm the designer of the Hurricane fighter aircraft, was born and raised, the site of his workshop and a replica Hurricane to remember him. The cache is a short distance from Waypoint 3.
There is plenty of parking nearby, although most of it is for 'pay & display' car parks. Free parking is available at the convenience store on the junction of Arthur Road and Alma Road near to the start point. You should be okay for the twenty minutes or so needed to complete the circuit.
The co-ordinates of the cache can be worked out by visiting the waypoints and answering the questions. Solve this simple sum:
N 51 29 . C A G W 000 3 (D-E) . B (F-H) (F-G)
WP1: What is the number of the house where Sydney lived as a youngster? Ans = AB
WP2: What number is on the gate to the left and the right of the plaque? Ans = CD & EF
WP3: What numbers can be seen on the lampost when standing at the front of the airplane? (The numbers are preceded by an L). Ans = GH
Please be considerate at Waypoints 1 & 2 as these are residential areas.
Sydney Camm, the eldest of twelve children, was born in Windsor in 1893 at the house by Waypoint 1. There is a blue plaque on the wall commemorating this. If you look closely, you can still see the outline of the original oval plaque that went missing when the houses were renovated.
Inspired by the Wright brothers as well as Tommy Sopwith and Gustav Hamel he started Windsor Model Aeroplane Club in his father’s garden workshop which was located at Waypoint 2, where there is another plaque, which reads,
"In a building on this site Sydney Camm designed
and built his first powered aircraft in 1911-1913.
Sir Sydney Camm C.B.E.
Chief Designer of Hawker Aircraft Ltd
was responsible for the design of many
fighter aircraft for the Royal Air Force
including the Hawker Hurricane
during the World War 1939-1945
Sydney Camm 1893 - 1966"
Sydney took an apprenticeship as a carpenter at Martinsyde aircraft and motorcycle manufacturer in Woking, before going to work at Hawker Engineering Company where he would became chief designer. He stayed with Hawker for 43 years.
In the 1920s and early 1930s Sydney designed the classic Hart 'family' of fabric and metal biplanes, putting Hawker in the front line of aircraft manufacture. At one time in the 1930s no fewer than 84% of RAF aircraft were of Hawker/Camm design.
In 1934 he produced the initial designs for the Hurricane fighter which made its first flight in November 1935. The iconic Hurricane was 100 mph faster than anything previously flown, being the first aircraft to break 300 mph. It was in full production at the outbreak of war in 1939 and with Mitchell's Spitfire, the Hurricane formed a major part of Fighter Command strength during the Battle of Britain and were responsible for three out of every five enemy planes shot down.
For his work, Sydney was made CBE in 1941 and was knighted in 1953.
As an aside, for those interested in electronics, Sydney’s brother Frederick is responsible for the Practical Wireless magazine. He was a prolific writer and is often known as ‘the practical man’.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jrfgrea obeqre
Treasures
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