Hunterverein Obersimmental has confirmed the grounding of its 1959-built Hawker Hunter F.58 after two decades of operation

The jet - J-4040/HB-RVS – known as ‘Papyrus’ due to its distinctive writing-based paint scheme was the last airworthy example of the type in Switzerland.

The former Swiss Air Force jet flew for the final time in October 2022 when it was ferried from its home base at St Stephan Airport in Bern to St Gallen-Altenrhein Airport near Lake Constance for its annual inspection. “Nobody knew at the time that this would be the last flight,” its owner stated. “We hoped to operate the jet for at least one more season.”

In its announcement, Hunterverein Obersimmental also noted that the aircraft “will be taken by road back to St Stephan” with the help of UK-based Hawker Hunter Aviation, where it will be reassembled and placed “on permanent static display”.