Hunter "Miss Demeanour"

Any reason for the move?

Going back to the original thread, how about posting some more photo’s of Miss D & is she still with Delta?

No she’s based at Exeter now, maintained by Hunter Flying.

Going back to the original thread, how about posting some more photo’s of Miss D & is she still with Delta?

I visited Lee-on-Solent for the first time yesterday and thought of that very incident. I didn’t come across any traffic lights though 😉

It often comes to my mind for it was the aircraft that I alluded to in that earlier post. I had strapped the pilot in and signalled start (first cartridge :)) then waved him out with the customary salute.

I had a grilling at the Board of Enquiry but after a few months with nagging worries, although I had nothing that I knew I should have worried about, at least the canopy cleared I having caried out the jettison checks that very morning, but one always wonders on these occasions.

All ‘the Board’ asked me about was the take off and my views as to how it compared with others I had watched and at what points, by line of sight, rotation first took place and then where the aircraft was when I heard the engine wind down and the nosewheel drop to the runway.

This is why ‘Toffee’ Sharp was lucky to escape serious injury when he ejected out of GA11 WV381 on 1 November 1972 at Lee-on-Solent.

I visited Lee-on-Solent for the first time yesterday and thought of that very incident. I didn’t come across any traffic lights though 😉

I remember visiting the fire section at RAF Chivenor, duirng summer camp as a cadet in (about) 1968/9.

A Hunter was taking off, when it’s engine spluttered died and within about 2 seconds started again.

Probably an engine surge where blow-off valves were not optimally set. Could have been FOD but I doubt that the Hunter would have continued the climb-out and returned safely.

Is this a regular occurence with Hunters,…

Not by that date.

…and what would the pilot have done to get it going again so quickly?

Prayed.

No seriously, not much. He may have pulled the throttle back a tad, waited for engine stability before advancing the throttle again. However, myself not being a fly-boy he may have taken other actions.

If the engine had not picked up his only option would have been an abort, particularly if his wheels were still on the deck in which case he would not have been able to rely on banging out as the seats were only cleared (well this applied to the GAs and T8s I knew) to 90 knots and above at ground level.

This is why ‘Toffee’ Sharp was lucky to escape serious injury when he ejected out of GA11 WV381 on 1 November 1972 at Lee-on-Solent.

I remember visiting the fire section at RAF Chivenor, duirng summer camp as a cadet in (about) 1968/9.

A Hunter was taking off, when it’s engine spluttered died and within about 2 seconds started again. The rock apes didn’t half jump – but sat down again as the engine came back on.

Is this a regular occurence with Hunters, and what would the pilot have done to get it going again so quickly?

There was no other drama, it continued to takeoff and, to the best of my recollection, continued with it’s mission as if nothing had happened.

Just off the top of my head…

…GA.11 XE685

I put the Harley light in the nose of that back in the 1970s also her near sister XE689.

Hunter much preferred for working to either the Sea Vixen or Phantom which could be brutes at times.

Although the Hunter could have its interesting moments like the one I fixed a Harley light to and looked after and readied for its return flight to Yeovilton but the pilot aborted the take off and it splashed into the Solent.

Then there was the time when a CPO on Heron Flight had fun on an engine start. I was working mostly on the Hunters on the flight at the time and this particular T8 had returned from a sortie and been snagged for engine vibration (there had been an ‘interesting’ situation developing with the engine’s turbine at that time).

The aircraft had just been refuelled so the cut down forty-gallon drum on a small wheeled trolley used to collect overflows was still under the aircraft. I was walking out of the hanger towards the aircraft with a brace of CO2 extinguishers in my hands when, having watched the CPO’s head bobbing about as he did a cockpit check, I was horrified to see, and hear, the cartridge starter in action as the start button was operated by Chieffie in cockpit.

The cartridge exhaust dumped straight into the fuel bin vapourising the fuel and with the engine winding up a cloud of fuel vapour was drawn quickly forward straight down the intakes. By this time I was frantically signalling a cut but Chieffie was clearly too occupied by his astonishment at the JPT gauge suddenly registering a higher than normal value at that point in the start cycle.

Fortunately the quantity of fuel in the bin had absorbed all the heat in the starter exhaust and there was no fire.

Just one of many tales of fun and games.

Is the above Hunter the only one on the Airshow circuit at the moment ? this Hunter has been the only one going to the southport airshow for the last few years, this surprises me as I remember the Big Formation of Hunters at kemble in 2001. Surely they could book another one occasionaly also she’s been going to the southend airshow for the last few seasons any help would be appreciated:)

Just off the top of my head…

Hunter Flying – has FGA.9 XE601, T.8B WV322, T.7 G-VETA, GA.11 XE685 available for flying displays. T.7 XL573 is usually available for static only (this is the NWMAS machine).

Heritage Aviation Developments – Miss Demeanour!

Delta Jets – has the ‘Blue Diamond’ T.7 XL577 and in partnership with the Scandinavan Historic Flight a Hunter F.58 in Swedish colours.
The black WV318 was off the circuit in 2006 undergoing overhaul, and may still be on the ‘operating table’.

Hawker Hunter Aviation – In theory they have F-58 ‘J-4021’ but I’m not sure if it will be available, as they have the contract work with the MoD.

Kennet Aviation – has F.6A XF515, but it hasn’t been seen for a couple of years.

Stichting Hawker Hunter Foundation – present its gorgeous T.8C G-BWGL painted in Dutch colours. Based in Holland, but it may return to the UK for airshows in addition to its visits to Exeter for routine maintenance.

Delta jets have a blue one and a black one on the circuit, i think Kennet have one too. Also the Hunter flying club at Exeter have a few as do the Hunter Team at Scampton and also NWMAS at Valley / Hawarden have one you can book as well. It’s just i think Miss D is such a great looking jet and Flapjack is certainly a great showman in Miss D.

I guess its as good a reason as any to post this……