Hunter F-6

The single seat Hunter prototype first flew in 1951 to finally enter RAF service in 1954. Nearly 2,000 Hunters were built, being considered the most successful jet fighter built in Great Britain, serving with numerous air forces around the world. The Hunter was developed by Hawker Aircraft to meet a RAF requirement for a day interceptor fighter to replace the Venom and Meteor. The single seat swept wing fighter was powered by the new 7,500 Ib thrust Rolls-Royce Avon jet, being armed with four 30 mm Aden guns in a detachable under fuselage gun pack. The prototype flew in July 1951, and the F.1 entered service in July 1954, with 139 being built by Hawkers at Kingston and Blackpool between May 1953 and October 1954. The F.2 was built in smaller numbers by Armstrong Whitworth and was powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire jet as a safeguard against problems with the Avon. The F.4 flew in the autumn of 1954 being an improvement over the short range F.1, carrying more fuel and underwing stores, and after replacing the F.1's based at home it was issued to RAF squadrons in Germany. Armstrong Whitworth produced the equivalent F.5 which was again powered by the Sapphire. Hawkers then developed the improved F.6 which was ordered in quantity by the RAF having a more powerful 10,000 lb thrust Avon for improved performance and it could carry four underwing fuel tanks, bombs or rocket projectiles. These were delivered from May 1955 to replace the F.4's and F.5's in service, and continued in service until replaced by Lightning F.2's from the end of 1962. This version of the Hunter was regarded as a real pilots aircraft, which was a joy to fly. To replace Venoms as ground attack fighters, Hawker's developed the FGA.9 from the F.6, having provision for more underwing stores, larger drop tanks and a tail parachute. Aircraft were modified from F.6's, serving the RAF between January 1960 and December 1971.

The public recall the Hunter for a number of headline making events. Neville Duke, Hawker's test pilot, established a new air speed record of 727 mph over the Sussex Coast on 7th September 1953. For many people their memory will be of the Hunter acrobatic teams, with 111 Squadrons Black Arrows being the most famous with their all black colour scheme. They were the main RAF acrobatic team during 1957-60, the highlight of these years being their formation loop of 22 aircraft at the 1958 Farnborough Air Show - the largest formation ever looped. 111 Squadron was followed by 92 Squadron's Blue Diamonds in 1961/62 - their claim being a 25 aircraft formation made up of their Hunters plus eight Lightnings. These acrobatic teams of the 1960's were the inspiration for the present day Red Arrows.

XG160 was built by Armstrong Whitworth at Coventry and delivered to the RAF in August 1956. Initially it served with 43 Squadron, being transferred to 111 Squadron at North Weald in 1958, being one of the famous 22 loop aircraft at that year's Farnborough Airshow, being flown by Sqd Ldr Roger Topp. In March 1966 it switched to a training role with 229 OCU at Chivenor and then with 1 TWU at Brawdy until June 1982. Transferred to ground duties in May 1983 XGI60 served with the TMTS at Scampton as an instructional airframe, repainted once again in its 111 Squadron colours. In December 1994 it was presented to the Royal Jordanian Air Force for form part of their Historic Flight, and the following month was transferred by road to Bournemouth for overhaul, being placed on the civil register as G-BWAF. It was stored whilst overhaul work was undertaken on other aircraft for the Historic Flight, and during this time its connection with 111 Squadron was recalled. In December 1997 the Jordanians agreed that XGI60 could remain in this country, and after a period of storage has been restored to it's 111 Sqd colour scheme of 1958. XG160 is on external static dispaly, with its cockpit accessable to children of all ages .

	Wing span : 10.25 m / 33 ft 8 ins Length : 13.87 m / 45 ft 10 ins Max weight : 10,885 kg / 24,000 lbs Service ceiling: - / 51,500 ft Max speed: 1,150 kph / 715 mph Engine : One x 10,000 lb thrust Rolls Royce Avon 207


Click image to enlarge