The greatest, most influential air battle of all time was the Battle of Britain. The aircraft that carried that battle was the Hawker Hurricane. The number of kills: 1,593 out of the 2,739 total claimed. The only Battle of Britan Victoria Cross winner (Flight Lieutenant Eric Nicolson) flew the Hurricane. When you add the Defence of Malta and work in North Africa - both during desperate moments in the war - the Hurricane shines ever brighter.

Not as pretty as most, but during the dark moments of Second World War, the Hurricane saved the day.