Hawker Hunter T8B Fighter and ground attack Jet Aircraft. GAV 2119-211
On 7 September 1953, the modified first prototype broke the world air speed record, achieving mph (1, km/h). Hunters were also used by two RAF display teams; the "Black Arrows", who on one occasion looped a record-breaking 22 examples in formation, and later the "Blue Diamonds", who flew 16 aircraft. Overall, 1,972 Hunters were produced by Hawker Siddeley and under licence. In British service, the aircraft was replaced by the English Electric Lightning, the Hawker Siddeley Harrier and the McDonnell Douglas Phantom. XF995 was built at Hawker Aircraft Ltd's Blackpool factory in 1956, as part of a contract to supply the RAF with fifty-six Hunter aircraft. It was delivered to the Royal Air Force at Lyneham, and put into care of 33 Maintenance Unit (33MU), where it was prepared for service. It was assigned to RAF 247(F) Sqn, the last RAF Squadron to re-equip with the Hunter F4, at RAF Odiham. XF995 was later transferred to 229OCU, based at RAF Chivenor. Following the delivery of Hunter , most of the variants were withdrawn from service and bought back by Hawkers, and subsequently XF995 was acquired for refurbishment and re-sale. XF995 was converted to a Hunter for the Royal Navy, and was delivered to the Fleet Air Arm in June 1964. It was assigned to 764NAS (Navy Air Squadron), where it was used until the Unit disbanded in July 1972. Around this time, the RAF had a requirement for a two-seat aircraft to help train their Buccaneer crews. Several surplus Royal Navy airframes were acquired as a result. XF995 was modified to specification; with the left hand side of the cockpit was refitted with Buccaneer instrumentation and avionics. In this guise XF995 was in service at RAF Honnington, RAF Laarbruch in West Germany, and finally RAF Lossiemouth, playing the role of a two-seat Buccaneer trainer. In 1994 it was one of the last four Hunters retired from active RAF service. Its last flight occurred on 11th April of that year.
Size: 6105px × 4010px
Location: RAF Lossiemouth, Moray, Grampian Region. Scotland. United Kingdom
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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