I was fortunate enough to see Necille Duke get the speed record at chichester back in the 50s, when he also landed it with one wheel retracted.It is in a museum at Tangmere I believe. The Swift retook it a few months later by "cheating"by flying it over a desert where the air was hotter, raising the Mach Number
Naga, 11.09.2012 03:03
Apparently Jordanian Hunter pilots were especially fierce in combat, tackling faser and more advanced Israeli Mirage IIIs in combat.
William Lonergan, e-mail, 03.08.2012 17:11
I flew the Hunter with Jock Watson on 208 Squadron. Great days, we were aeronautical hooligans of the first water. Terric fun knocking s**t out of the air to gound targets with 30mm cannon and 3" drainpipes, (anti-tank rockets). Watsoon was also the greatest cheater at 1 v 1 combat I ever knew. Jock's rendition of Amazing Grace on the bagpipes accompanied by the biggest blackest Trucial Oman Scout brought tears to the eyes. I believe Jock still holds the world altitude, Canberra, and speed, Phantom, records for playing the bagpipes.
Peter Wood, e-mail, 24.06.2012 14:00
Saw approx 12 aircraft (wings removed) stored in a hanger at Tocumwal airfield about 3 hours North of Melbourne Australia. Privately owned & I believe purchased from Malaysia when they were de-commissioned. You could have your own private airforce!
Derek Porter, e-mail, 14.11.2011 15:21
I worked on the Mk5 with the Armstrong Siddley "Sappire" engine, R.A.F. Tangmere 1956-58 with No 1 & 34 sqdns. Fantastic machine. The last of Fighter Command's aircraft to serve at Tangmere!
jock watson, e-mail, 13.10.2011 15:45
I enjoyed seven wonderful years flying my favourite aircraft of all time on 208, 234, 54 Sqns.Behaved badly doing low level aeros for Fighter Command and Strike Command before flyinf the other great and more capable F4 for seven years.decades of being a hooligan.Wonderful fun, unforgetable.....
Steve Wearing, e-mail, 22.09.2011 13:17
I was very fortunate to fly the Hunter for about 5 years whilst at RAF Brawdy. A Real Man's aeroplane - we used to say! Even did the last 9 ship formation around for about a month - led by ex Reds Leader Brian Hoskins. Just wondered if there was anyone out there who has a video of the RAF Brawdy Airshow in about 1986 where we did the last display with the 9 ship?
bombardier, e-mail, 26.05.2011 10:21
The Hunter was the best British fighter of the 1950s.It was very agile and heavily armed.Unfortunately it was replaced by the Lightning which was faster but less manouverable and lacked guns for close range dogfights.There was a project [the Hawker P.1083] to fit the Hunter with a Gyron turbojet of 11.600kg with afterburner and thiner wings,such an aircraft would have been a FIGHTER.
mike, e-mail, 03.11.2010 18:42
R.A.F. 1955 ONE PHOTO MARKE 7 WILL COPY AND MAIL U.S.A.F. 1958-1978
Don Wilson, e-mail, 21.10.2010 21:04
I spent almost 2 years with 98 Squadron(Royal Air Force) in Germany as Instrument Mechanic with Hunters. They were one beautiful aircraft.
Minnie, e-mail, 21.08.2010 20:58
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.
Bob Palman, e-mail, 04.08.2010 03:06
# 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.
paul scott, e-mail, 20.08.2009 15:24
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.
Jock Williams, e-mail, 19.04.2009 22:50
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
J A Chesters, e-mail, 27.01.2009 17:29
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
said AKHRASS, e-mail, 19.01.2009 03:37
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.
John Reynolds, e-mail, 29.07.2008 16:57
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.
Robert Scott, e-mail, 12.06.2008 18:10
This was probably the nicest possible aircraft ever, from a handling point of view, especially without wingtanks or stores. A true pilot's aeroplane!
Philip Oakley, e-mail, 27.07.2007 07:19
I've always thought this design was perfect mixture of grace and muscle. Thanks for the site, Maksim!
If you want to send an email just replace '(@)' in the address with '@' !
