Hawker Hunter T8C, G-BWGL / HABL003086, Stichting Hawker Hunter Foundation
This picture is © Martin Laycock and may not be used or published without permission.
Registration: G-BWGL
Construction Number: HABL003086
Code Number: N-321
Model Hawker Hunter T8C
Operator: Stichting Hawker Hunter Foundation
Airport: Exeter (EXT / EGTE), UK - England
Photographer: Martin Laycock
Date Taken: 09/12/2010
Date Submitted: 09/12/2010
This beautiful looking Hunter was photographed taxying in at Exeter after leading a three-ship sortie with Team Viper. Originally built in 1956 as an F.4 serialled XF357, she operated with 130 Squadron at RAF Bruggen. In 1959 she was returned to Hawkers for conversion to T.8 standard for the Fleet Air Arm. Initially operated from RNAS Lossiemouth she remained in service with the Royal Navy, ending her military days with the FRADU at RNAS Yeovilton until her retirement in 1994. She was then sold to a private owner and was restored to airworthiness by Jet Heritage at Bournemouth. After the demise of Jet Heritage she came under the care of the Old Flying Machine Company at Duxford who had her repainted as XJ615 (the T.7 prototype), in this guise the nose-mounted Harley light was removed but the arrestor hook was retained for safety reasons. Her next owner was Elvington Events until early 2007 when she was acquired by the Dutch Hawker Hunter Foundation based at Leeuwarden in the Netherlands. She now wears full Royal Netherlands Air Force markings with the serial N-321. Dutch two-seat Hunters wore serials in the range N-301 to N-320, as this one never actually saw Dutch service, permission was granted by the KLU to use the next in sequence.
Picture ID:1265390