| FRADU HUNTER PHOTO GALLERY |
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| Current images: 11 | Page's estimated download time: 20 seconds | Page 3 of 4 |
| T.8C HUNTERS ['876' to '877'] |
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| T.8C XF985 | T.8C XE665 | T.8C WT702 | T.7 WV372 |
[© Ray Down] |
[© John Smith] |
| Hawker Hunter XF985 had a seven
year career with the RAF, as a Hunter F.4, from its delivery in 1956. It served with one frontline squadron, RAF 71(F) and was then placed in storage until being bought back by Hawker-Siddeley in 1963. It was converted to a T.8B for the Royal Navy and handed over to the
Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Lossiemouth. It's next posting was to RNAS Yeovilton, where it was used by
the Air Direction Training Unit as aircraft '746'. The aircraft was lost on 10th April 1990 when the pilot, Rick Lea, experienced a severe control restriction whilst returning from a FRADU sortie, The pilot could not regain control so he ejected from the aircraft, which crashed harmlessly into open countryside. |
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[© Peter R. March] |
[© Philip Shean] |
[via CJAC] |
[© Peter R. March] |
[© Peter R. March] |
[© Jeff Middleton] |
| Hunter XE665 only had a two-year
RAF career as a Hunter F.4, after delivery on 24th May 1955. It served with just one front-line Squadron, RAF 118(F) Sqn based at Jever, Germany as aircraft 'A', and it was used by the bases' Station Flight. Hawkers re-purchased the aircraft in 1957 for refurbishment and resale. It was converted to a two seat T.8 trainer for the Royal Navy, being
handed over to the Fleet Air Arm on 20th April 1959. It's next confirmed posting was to RN 759 Sqn at RNAS Brawdy, where it became a part of the Naval Advanced Flying Training School as '802/BY'. It's service history between 1969 and 1974 is uncertain at the time of writing, one possible theory is that it remained in service in 759 Sqn until 1969 and was placed in store. It was transferred to the FRADU in 1974/5 and was repainted in day-glo
colours and assigned with the call-sign '878' and VL tail code. It
stayed in service for at least three years until it went into store at
RAF Kemble. In July 1995 the aircraft was sold at auction to Barry Pearson, and it was flown down to the Classic Jet Aircraft Company's facilities at Exeter in February 1996. Placed on the civil register as G-BWGM, XE665 was operated on the European Airshow circuit between 1996 and 1998. During 2006, the aeroplane was moved by road to Kemble, where it is currently being assessed for restoration back to flying condition. |
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[© Geoff Wakeham] |
[© Glen Moreman/Delta Jets] |
| Hawker Hunter WV372 was built
for the Royal Air Force and it first entered service with RAF 222(F)
Sqn based at RAF Leuchars as aircraft 'H'. The aircraft was
damaged by a fire in the air when the jet-pipe became detached from the
engine in November 1956 and it is believed that WV372 was grounded, and
subsequently bought back by Hawkers for resale.
It was converted to a T.7 and handed over to the RAF's 5MU on 7th Mat
1959. The Royal Navy acquired the airframe in October 1984 and was
originally assigned the call-sign '879' with a 'VL'. Auctioned off in 1997 it was sold to Tom Moloney and flown to North Weald where it was due to be overhauled by Gosh That's Aviation. Following a change of ownership it was duly flown from North Weald to Bournemouth on 11 August 1997 by Jet Heritage's Chief Pilot, Jonathon Whaley where a restoration programme began. It was re-united with its 2 Sqn colours and flew again in 1998. Since then the aircraft has changed home base and now lives at Kemble Airfield, and is looked after by Delta Jets and owned by the 'Fox-One consortium', a syndicate of eight pilots. |
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