Apparently so smooth that Ian Dick of 20 Sqn did a "roller", at 300 knots off a thick patch of trees, having mis-estimated his sink rate after rocket fire.
Climbed to 5000 ft under power at which time engine flamed out and he then ejected.

# 111 Sqdn RAF Fighter Command. The Black Arrows. At Farnborough, 22 black Hunters looping and rolling. Has anybody else ever tried to do that? you always see the Blue Angles and the Thunderbirds looping and rolling six and seven aircraft, but twentytwo, hey, there you go.

Despite Britain's technological prowess in terms of jet propulsion/design, we never really adopted the swept wing for in-service fighters quickly enough compared to both the USA and Russia (Sure, plenty in experimental types, but as I say, late on in-service fighters). So much so, the American lead with the excellent Sabre, the British pilots didn't want to trade their Sabres in for the Hunter, until they flew it. Although in service against faster types (Iraqi hunters managed to shoot down four Israeli Mirage III's due to the latter's low-level and turn deficiencies with the Delta wing)it still excelled in service and was a graceful, classic design. Once the bugs were ironed out that is. Churchill rushed it into priorty production where the bugs showed, but nevertheless, perhaps the most successful British aircraft.

I only ever flew the dual model -and it was after I had flown the F104 for several years so naturally it didn't compare in absolute speed or climb rate, but it was just a wonderful machine to fly -very smooth and responsive on the controls and extremely manoeuverable!
I think the Hunter and the Sabre are as much classics of their era as were the Hurricane, Spitfire and Mustang.
And THAT -is saying something!

Jock Williams Yogi 13

Mk 4 was a dream you could fix anything with a hide faced hammer, then the Mk 6 came along, drinking breathing absorbing AVPIN , started a model aero engine on it once would'nt stop, finally seized up , and was very hot, 20 Sqdn,1956-1959 Oldenburg-Ahlhorn-Gutersloh and of course Sylt-Sylt-Sylt in those days was Engine Fitter

Hi freinds, I would like to ask you if you have more photos of the hunter fighter, and most important who still operates the aircraft, military or civilian, and if you know anyone who have spare parts for this great jet fighter. We are still looking for used aircrafts for sale and spares for the existing ones in the Lebanese air force. Please send information if you can and when you can. Thank you.

A beautiful aircraft in flight. One you felt like you strapped on your back and became a part of the aircraft. While I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath, the treble one Sga would come over from Water Beach and beat up our air patch about once a month. What a show and it was free. Even the toilet paper they packed in the Speed Brake well.

This was probably the nicest possible aircraft ever, from a handling point of view, especially without wingtanks or stores. A true pilot's aeroplane!

I've always thought this design was perfect mixture of grace and muscle. Thanks for the site, Maksim!