Hawker Aircraft Ltd built XE685 as a Hunter F.4 at its Blackpool factory, and it was delivered to the Royal Air Force on 18th July 1955. After being prepared for military service by 33MU at RAF Lyneham, XE685 was first posted to RAF 93(F) Sqn serving as aeroplane 'B', and then later to RAF 98(F) Squadron, both of which were based at RAF Jever in West Germany. In 1960, when the Hunter F.6 was beginning to come into RAF service, many F.4 aeroplanes were placed in store, and XE685's RAF career had seemingly come to an end.

The Royal Navy acquired XE685 and it contracted Hawkers to convert the aeroplane to GA.11 specification at Kingston-upon-Thames. The aeroplane was delivered to the Fleet Air Arm on 6th May 1963, and entered service with 738 NAS (Navy Air Squadron) as '651/LM' at RNAS Lossiemouth, and it moved with the Squadron to RNAS Brawdy in December 1963. During December 1964, XE685 returned to Lossiemouth to join 764 NAS and was used for air warfare instructor training and conversion flights as '693' with 'LM' shore code on the tail fin.
During October 1966, the aircraft was loaned back to the manufacturers at Dunsfold and employed on practice bombing trials. It was fitted with four practice bomb carriers under the front fuselage and one under each pylon. This would enable the aircraft to carry eight 25lb bombs. It also undertook rocket projectile trials during its stay in Surrey. On completion of these tasks, XE685 was returned to Lossiemouth where it took up the coding '694' in July 1968.

On 27th February 1969, XE685 was ferried to RNAS Yeovilton, where it was given the new call-sign '708' and shore code 'VL', ready for service with the Station Flight. Its stay in Somerset lasted just over eighteen months, as by the end of November 1970 it had returned to Lossiemouth for a third spell with 764 NAS again as '694/LM, and remained in use until the Squadron disbanded in 1972.
XE685 then made the move back to Yeovilton where it joined the Air Direction Training Unit (ADTU) during October 1972 as aeroplane '731'. Employed on training duties, XE685 became a member of the newly formed Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Training Unit (FRADTU - the Training word was later dropped, hence becoming FRADU) at Yeovilton two months later. Aside from a two-month spell at Lee-on-Solent (February-April 1974) and several periods of maintenance and paint re-finishes, XE685 remained in service at Yeovilton as '861' until 30th March 1994, when it was retired from Fleet Air Arm service.

XE685's civilian life

The aeroplane was sold at auction to Barry Pover during the summer of 1994, and registered to the Lightning Flying Club as G-GAII.
Later incorporated into the Classic Jet Aircraft Company, XE685 made frequent airshow appearances between 1995 and 1998. In 1999 she was flown to RAF St Mawgan for storage, and a year later was delivered to North Weald for its new owner, where The Jet Centre maintained it.
It was flown back to Exeter in June 2000 and placed in store and again offered for sale. Acquired by a two-man consortium during 2002, a restoration programme was begun to bring 'G-GAII' back to flying condition. The aeroplane changed hands again during April 2005, and the restoration continued at a steady pace.

On 11th February 2006, G-GAII took to the air again for the first time in nearly six years with ex-FRADU Chief pilot Brian Grant at the controls.
A full permit to fly was issued shortly afterwards following a successful test flight schedule. Following display appearances during 2006 at Kemble, RNAS Yeovilton and RNAS Culdrose, XE685 made appearances at Yeovilton and Farnborough during 2008, and when not at Exeter operates from Sleap airfield in Shropshire.