| FRADU HUNTER PHOTO GALLERY |
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| Current images: 24 | Page's estimated download time: 36 seconds | Page 2 of 2 |
| GA.11 HUNTERS ['834' to '838'] |
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| GA.11 XF301 | GA.11 XE682 | GA.11 WV267 | GA.11 WT711 | GA.11 WT806 |
[© Peter R. March] |
[© Peter R. March] |
[© Peter R. March] |
[© Peter R. March] |
[© Peter R. March] |
[© Nick Challoner] |
[© Garrett Moscos] |
[© Garrett Moscos] |
| XF301 was delivered to the RAF as a F4 on
30th December 1955, and initially went to 5MU to be prepared for its
first RAF posting. That duly arrived and XF301 was sent to No. 43(F) Sqn, where it remained throughout its relatively short RAF career, before being bought back by Hawkers for possible re-sale. It was converted to a GA.11 for the Royal Navy and delivered to the
FAA on 19th October 1962 at RNAS Lossiemouth. It was transferred to the Unit in 1983 after GA.11 XE716/834's
accident, and exchanged its Lossiemouth codes for a new call-sign and
station code '834/VL.' The aircraft went on to serve the Unit until
August 1993 when it was withdrawn and placed in storage at RAF Shawbury
probably because of its low airframe and engine hours. Incidentally it was this aircraft that was the last FRADU Hunter to be repainted in the all grey scheme whilst in service, only being repainted in 1991. |
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[© Vic Flintham] |
[© Ray Down] |
[© Mike Hall] |
| Hawker Hunter XE682 was built as an F4 for
the RAF and delivered on 5th July 1955. The aircraft saw service overseas with RAF 118(F) Sqn. based at RAF Jever, Germany before it returned to the UK and acquired by Hawker-Siddeley for refurbishment and potential re-sale. Her new owner was the Royal Navy, and the aircraft was converted to
GA.11 status. In September 1969 XE682 was delivered to the FRU at Hurn and given
the new call-sign '835'. On 22nd November 1985 the front fuselage and wings of XE682 arrived
at RNAS Culdrose for spares recovery. |
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[© Mike Hall] |
[© Mike Hall] |
[© Mike Hall] |
[© Andrew P. March] |
[© Nick Prior] |
[© Glen Moreman/Delta Jets] |
| Hawker Hunter WV267 was built
as a F4 by Hawkers at Kingston and it took its first flight, at the
hands of Duncan Simpson, on 5th May 1955. It was delivered to the RAF a
few weeks later and went into service with No. 93(F) Sqn. based in
Germany at RAF Jever. It later saw service with No.247(F) Sqn and
98(F)
Sqn before being retired and bought back by Hawkers for
refurbishment. It was converted to a GA.11 and was accepted by the Navy at
Lossiemouth in 1963 and put into service with RN 738 Squadron. It later
followed the Squadron to Brawdy in 1964, and it is believed to have
remained with them until 1969. It's FRADU career was ended on 29th November 1985 when it suffered a bird-strike,
after investigation the aircraft was relegated to ground instructional
duties and assigned the Navy maintenance code 'A2650'. It actually stayed at 'Weald until February 1996 when it moved across
the 'pond'. It's current status and location are unknown (CAN YOU HELP WITH INFORMATION??!!) |
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[© Nick Challoner] |
[© Glen Moreman/Delta Jets] |
[© Garry Lakin] |
| Hawker Hunter WT711 was one of the first
Hunter F4s built and its first flight took place on 10th February 1955
with Hugh Merewether at the controls. It was delivered to the Air Force
on 14th March 1955 and was despatched to 33MU before joining RAF
No.54(F) Sqn based at RAF Odiham. It served with one other RAF Squadron,
No. 14(F) as aircraft 'A' before being bought back by Hawkers. It was converted to a GA.11 for the Royal Navy, emerging in November
1962 prior to delivery to RNAS Lossiemouth. On 2nd August 1971 WT711 became the 10th Hunter to be delivered to
the FRU at Hurn, shortly after arrival it was given the call-sign
'837'. It's stay at the Dorset airfield last just over a year when
it moved to RNAS Yeovilton on 20th October 1972 to join the newly formed
FRADU. WT711 was uniquely the only FRADU GA.11 Hunter not fitted with a
Harley light in her nose-cone, as she retained her solid nose throughout
her FRADU career.
Assigned the Royal Navy maintenance code A2731 WT711 was assigned to the
School of Aircraft Handling at RNAS Culdrose on 18th September 1985, it
arrived at its new home by road five days later. Here it was re-coded '833/DD' and maintained in taxiable condition until January
1994 when it was withdrawn and sold to a private owner. |
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[© Hugh Trevor] |
[© Vic Flintham] |
| Last of the 83x series of FRADU Hunters was
WT806. Built as a F4 for the RAF, it took to the air for the first time on 31st March 1955, flown by Duncan Simpson. It was delivered to the RAF just under a month later on 25th April, and assigned to No.14(F) Sqn. based at RAF Oldenburg. This proved to be its only posting as the aircraft over-trimmed during a tight turn, jamming the accelerometer at 10G. The aircraft was returned to Hawkers and completely stripped down and rebuilt from scratch. It was later brought up to GA.11 standard and delivered to the Royal
Navy in 1962. Aircraft collector Richard Everett, owner of a large collection based in Ipswich purchased the airframe, and was kept in storage at his home until 2001 when it was offered for sale. In early July 2002, the aircraft was sold to Northlands College, Shoreham Airport, and it was delivered by road to its new home where it will be used as an instructional airframe. |
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[GA.11 '830'-'838' Gallery Page 1]
| I am always seeking for new material of anything FRADU. So if you know of anything then don't hesitate to e-mail me here even if you don't have a scanner! |
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