FRADU HUNTER PHOTO GALLERY
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[Hunter GA.11's '830' to '838'] [Royal Navy Hunter T.8M's]
[Hunter GA.11's '860' to '868'] [Blue Herons display team]
[Hunter T.8C's '869 to '880'] [Blasts from the past]
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GA.11 HUNTERS ['865' to '868']
GA.11 XE707 PR.11 WT723 GA.11 WT809 GA.11 WT744

'865/VL' = Hunter GA.11 XE707
 

[© Barry Pover]

[Unknown]

[© Derek Morter]
 
TGA.11 XE707 was built as an F.4 and was delivered to the RAF in September 1955.
It served with two Squadrons during its first service career, 93(F) Sqn and 118(F) Sqn before being put into store and subsequently purchased by Hawkers for re-sale. 

The jet was converted to a GA.11 and entered Fleet Arm Service in early 1964.
It initially served with RN 738 Sqn for a few months before moving onto RN 764 Sqn, both based at RNAS Lossiemouth.
In 1969 XE707 moved south to Bournemouth where it became part of the Fleet Requirements Unit as aircraft '833'.
On October 13th 1972 it was ferried to the FRU's new base at Yeovilton, but within a couple of months the aircraft was put into storage at Kemble, and WW654 took over the '833' call-sign. 

As a result of PR.11 XF977's accident in 1981, XE707 became operational with the FRADU as it's replacement in the fleet as '865'. It was detached regularly on sorties and continued to serve the fleet until 1994 when it was retired and later put up for sale by auction. It was acquired by USA-based George Lazik, ad it was ferried to Exeter where a team led by Barry Pover prepared it for the ferry flight across the Atlantic, arriving at its new home in the summer of 1995.
In 1998 the aircraft was sold to Global Aviation Inc. and Dave Ridsdale in California overhauled her.

The aeroplane was imported back into the UK during 2005, but was recently sold on eBay!
It's current location is unknown - (CAN YOU HELP WITH INFORMATION??!!)


'866/VL' = Hunter PR.11 WT723
 

[© Peter R. March]

[© Geoff Wakeham]

[© Peter R. March]
 
Hunter WT723 entered RAF service on 25 March 1955, and it had a varied RAF career.
It included spells on the front-line with No.54 (F) Sqn. based at RAF Odiham, and No.14(F) Sqn stationed at Oldenburg coded 'T'. It concluded its RAF service undertaking second-line duties with 229OCU in the UK at RAF Chivenor, before being bought back by Hawkers and given a full overhaul in preparation for possible resale. 

It was brought up to GA.11 standard and delivered to the Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Lossiemouth in August 1962, entering service with RN 764 Sqn as '694/LM.' It was later sent to Short Brothers, Belfast and fitted with three reconnaissance cameras in the nose, thus becoming a PR.11. On return to service with 764 it was re-coded '692/LM' and remained in service until July 1972 when the Squadron was disbanded.

In 1973 WT723 was transferred to the FRADU at Yeovilton and became aircraft '866'.
It remained in service with the Unit, in between short periods of store to reduce its airframe hours, for the next 20 years.
A highlight in its FRADU career was taking part in a special Yeovilton Flypast for the Queen's visit in 1991. 

Retired from FRADU service in 1993, WT723 was flown in March to RNAS Culdrose for its new role as a ground trainer at the School of Aircraft Handling (the Dummy Deck school). It was maintained in taxiable condition until being withdrawn in 1996.
Sold at auction to Lynn Florey in May 1997, WT723 was flown from Culdrose to Exeter by ex-FRADU pilot Brian Grant in September of that year. Work was begun by the Classic Jet Aircraft Company to bring it to civilian airworthy standard.
Plans to export and operate the aircraft in the USA came to nothing, and the aircraft was placed on the UK register as G-PRII.
The aircraft returned to the air on 21st August 1999 and made its European airshow debut on 5th September at Beauvechain, Belgium flown by John Aldington. 

It is the sole remaining PR.11 left in existence, and it is currently kept undercover at Exeter.


'867/VL' = Hunter GA.11 WT809
 

[© Peter R. March]

[© Mike Hall]

[© Peter R. March]

[© Glen Moreman/Delta Jets]

[© via Ray Down]
 
Hunter WT809 was built in 1955, and it took its first flight on 13th April flown by Hugh Merewether.
It was delivered to the RAF two months later on 28th June, going into front-line service with No. 66(F) Sqn as aircraft 'G'.
That was to be its only front line posting in a brief career, and after a spell with RAF Linton-On-Ouse's Station Flight the aircraft escaped scrapping and was bought back by Hawkers for possible re-sale overseas. 

It was converted to a GA.11 and delivered to RNAS Lossiemouth in 1964. Handed over to RN 738 Sqn it settled down at RN 764 Sqn where it adopted the call-sign '697' and shore code 'LM.' The jet stayed at Lossiemouth until 1972 when it was transferred to the Air Direction Training Unit at RNAS Yeovilton, where it became aircraft '737.'
In 1973 it was absorbed into the new FRADU fleet at Yeovilton and it took on the identity of '867'. 

It remained in service with the FRADU until 14th June 1988 when the aircraft suffered an engine flame-out on final approach to land at Yeovilton. The pilot, David Braithwaite reacted very quickly by using his remaining height and speed to change his flight path and avoid any buildings, staying with the jet as long as possible.
He ejected at the last possible moment through the canopy, and WT809 crashed safely into woodland next to the B3151.
Rumours were at the time that the pilot had a soft landing of sorts, descending into a huge pile of cow dung that a farmer had spent hours building!


'868/VL' = Hunter GA.11 WT744
 

[© Peter R. March]

[© Peter R. March]

[© Peter R. March]

[© Peter R. March]
 
Hawker Hunter F.4 WT744 first flew at the hands pf Duncan Simpson on 28th February 1955.
It was delivered to the RAF on the 25th March, going to 5MU at Kemble before being assigned to the AFDS (Air Fighting Development School), based at RAF West Raynham. It was then posted to the frontline RAF No.247(F) Squadron before being withdrawn and sold back to Hawkers for re-sale. 

It was converted to a GA.11 and delivered to the Fleet Air Arm on 13th February 1963 at Lossiemouth, where it went into Fleet Air Arm service with RN 738 Sqn. It moved to Brawdy with 738 in 1964 where it was coded '641/BY' before returning to Lossiemouth later that year to be based with RN 764 Sqn, where it became aircraft '691' and was given the 'LM' shore code. 
It remained with the Squadron until it disbanded in May 1972, and it then went into store awaiting its next posting. 

In January 1977 the jet was put back into service with the FRADU and given the call-sign '868'.
It remained with the Unit until 1994 when it was withdrawn and put up for tender.
The aircraft was acquired by the South West Aviation Heritage group and was moved by road from Yeovilton to Eaglescott Aerodrome in Devon by the Classic Jet Aircraft Company. It remains there today and is currently stored on the airfield.


[GA.11 '860'-'868' Gallery Page 2]

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