Hi all , i have started research on my hunter cockpit , i have confirmed RAF serial as XJ714 ex Singapore AF serial 531.
As i have found out that there is a compersite hunter displayed at the East Midlands aeropart (which does not have any parts from XJ714) i have being trolling the net looking for info and pictures , she served with 4 and 208 sqd.
Would be interesting to find any past pilots or ground crew who flew or worked on her.
cheers dave
By: battle - 2nd July 2011 at 00:30
Hi Dr John many thanks for info , my hunter was parted out for its wings which went onto a 2 seater flying in Queensland the centre section is still at Tocumual in storage.
cheers dave
By: Dr. John Smith - 1st July 2011 at 20:56
Hawker Hunter XJ714
You’re welcome! Another “in service” pic for you: http://yssyforum.net/board/showthread.php?t=3644&page=9. Go to post #82, which is captioned
“Singapore Air Force Hawker Hunter FGA74S 531 at Williamtown in May 1983 – talking to the Singaporean Hunter Pilots, they were really proud to have gun camera footage from one of their aircraft with a RAAF Mirage in the sights, not easy to do and probably just a little lucky. The pilot of this aircraft went through the full engine start procedure with me and covered many of the systems.”
And more recently: http://www.hunty.com.au/Reborn/images/dataphotos/144.jpg
This is a pic of your Hunter at Tocumwal airfield, NSW, in Sept 1998. Down to a wingless, finless fuselage.
Another pic of your Hunter (and RSAF 529 next to it) still at Tocumwal in July 2000 at http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/hunter/survivor.php?id=757. No change except perhaps a little more dusty!
I would like to know more about the Hawker Hunter in Singapore service. All I know at present is this: “These aircraft were purchased by Geoff Moesker and Alan Arthur of Australia when 21 Hunters were withdrawn and sold by tender in 1993-94….Singapore originally contracted for 16 Hunters in 1968, with the aircraft delivered in 1970-71. This was followed by a second order, for twenty-two aircraft to be delivered between June 1972 and October 1973. These aircraft would be delivered as F.R.Mark 74Bs, and were produced by upgrading eight F.4s and fourteen F.6s. At the same time an order was placed for T.Mark 75 two-seat trainers.
The aircraft operated from Tengah with no’s 140 (Osprey) and 141 (Merlin) squadrons.”
Also, I seem to recall that all the Singapore AF Hunter pilots were all trained at 229 OCU at Chivenor during the early/mid 1970s, with all RSAF Hunter being sent there first, before being flown out to Tengah.
You say that you have the cockpit: what happend to the rest of your Hunter?
Does it still exist? And do you hope to assemble a complete aircraft one day?
By: battle - 1st July 2011 at 12:58
Hi all , many thanks for the replies a great start.
cheers dave
By: TonyT - 30th June 2011 at 20:51
Lot of 4 sqn hunters on the jever site see
http://www.rafjever.org/4squadpictures.htm
has details of pilots crews etc too
Shed load of videos of everything from the time period including 4 sqn hunters
By: Dr. John Smith - 30th June 2011 at 20:27
Hawker Hunter XJ714
Another picture for you: http://www.radfanhunters.co.uk/Aircraft8/XJ714_Sharjah_08-70_KP.jpg
Which is captioned:
“After the closure of Ksar, 8 Sqn continued to use Sharjah for its APC commitment, as depicted in this August 1970 view.
The Squadron continued with an allocation of four FR.10s, XJ714 seen here, being fresh from refurbishment in the UK.”
So from that, I conclude that XJ714 (the “real one” that you own) was “B” of 4 Squadron for most of the 1960s, passing to 8 Squadron by August 1970. (Displaced from 4 Squadron when they re-equipped with Harriers in 1970)
By the way, the UK Serials website lists the history of XJ714 as
“f/f 13/02/1957, d/d 26/03/1957, Sold 07/06/1971 to Hawker Siddeley Aircraft, to G-9-365, delivered 17/01/1973 to Singapore ADC 531, (N) pres. Melbourne”
There are also some reports that XJ714 was used as a trials aircraft for “Tropical Trials” at Idris, Libya in 1957, and was also “B” of 208 Squadron in March 1958, but was withdrawn from service after being “damaged by a pipe bomb” planted by EOKA Terrorists at Nicosia, Cyprus in 1958.
It also seems that your Hunter was the CO’s personal aircraft, quote: “the new Squadron Commander, Squadron Leader J H Granville-White took the Squadron and its Hunters to Nicosia on 21st March 1958 and, within a month, the new Commanding Officer’s shiny new Hunter had a hole blown in its nose by a terrorist’s pipe bomb.
By: Dr. John Smith - 30th June 2011 at 16:52
Hawker Hunter XJ714
Hello
Here’s a link to a pic to get you started: http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK—Air/Hawker-Hunter-FR10/1193541/M/
This is a pic of the “real” XJ714 (which you own part of) as “B” of 4 Squadron. Taken at the Battle of Britain display at Biggin Hill on Sept 14, 1963
And another of XJ714 at: http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=777520. Taken at Gutersloh, Germany in 1968, when she was still “B” of 4 Squadron.
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June 30, 2011 at 2:48 pm