HAWKER HUNTER

The RAF Hawker Hunter was the first jet interceptor aircraft to succeed the RAF’s first generation of early jet fighters such as the Gloster Meteor and the De Havilland Venom.

Produced in both a single seat and two seater version, the aircraft was also the first prototype to break the airspeed record achieving a speed in excess of 727 mph.

The single-seater version was introduced in 1954 and was armed with four 30mm Aden cannons with 150 rounds per gun. Contained in a single blister pack, it allowed for rapid rearming and maintenance. In the two seater version, it carried either a single Cannon or in the export version, two cannons.

Featuring nose-mounted ranging radar, which provided range input to the gyro gunsight for air to air combat, the Hunter also featured pylon mounted underwing external fuel tanks as well as additional hard points to carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile and the AGM-65 Maverick air to surface missile.

Much like the Canadair Sabre, the Hunter’s fuselage could be split into three major components allowing easy airframe and engine maintenance or replacement.

A replacement for the ageing Canadair Sabre and the De Havilland Venom, the Hawker Hunters saw their first combat missions during the Suez Crisis of 1956 when Hunter F-5’s of No. 1 and No 34 Sqns based in Cyprus, flew escort cover the English Electric Canberra bombers on offensive missions into Egypt. 

By 1957 all the Sabres, Vampires and Venoms of RAF Fighter Command and RAF Germany had been replaced with 19 squadrons being equipped with the Hawker Hunter interceptor fighter, now fitted with the next generation Avon engines giving them a faster speed, greater ceiling height and shorter scramble times. 

For the next five years, the Hawker Hunter was the RAF’s primary air defence and ground attack aircraft until the next generation of nuclear V- bombers had begun to enter service with their ability to climb well above the Hawker Hunter. 

By 1963, the RAF had begun replacing the Hunter with the much faster, twin engine, English Electric Lightning which had both the speed and the height to intercept Russia’s new nuclear bombers, relegating the Hunters to RAF acrobatic display units.

Despite this, the Hawker Hunter's overseas combat role continued well into the late 70’s, with over half of the 2000 Hawker Hunters built, earmarked for export to foreign countries such as Denmark, India, Sweden, Singapore, Lebanon, and South Africa.

All Hawker Hunter Instruments listed below come complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in aircraft cockpit.

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