Hunter 'T' Bird

I like to think so and I’m looking forward to catching up with this airframe again in the not too distant future! 🙂

Result 🙂

To confirm what was announced at the Cockpit-Fest prize giving earlier this afternoon – the T7 has been acquired by Lakes Lightnings and it is going to go on loan at Newark Air Museum. 🙂

It will be interesting where it ends up ! Ideally in a museum that can carry out a full restoration and avoid a continuation of being left out in the rain.

Panic over!

The situation looks to have moved on somewhat – “it is going to be dismantled and sent to another Museum in the UK”

Jon

Having had recent dealings with the airport management at Caernarfon, and back when Prince G-AMLZ was extracted in 2007, I have dropped key people a line to try and find out more.

Jon

Anyone got any update on this sad saga please?

I’m hoping to hear this airframe has been saved – either whole or cockpit, but NOT scrappped…..

T O 23,
Could you please advise me who the forumite owner may be?

Thanks,

Camlobe

It is my understanding that the airframe is owned by a forumite.

….and hasn’t removed it when asked/told to do so ?, so now just being got rid of, hence the scrapper ? or just acquired/saved it and will be removing it himself ?

Main Oleo’s long since lost their pressure judging by this photo from 2012 showing the links folded flat (zero pressure)?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/74093430@N08/6815927706/sizes/o/

Yes !! great, Thanks for pic 382 , tyre’s flat too, there’s no engine in it either and internals will be full of sand, but worth saving. Hope someone can formulate a quick rescue plan.Bill T.

It is my understanding that the airframe is owned by a forumite.

Someone needs to have an urgent chat with the owner to stall the impending axe descending. Are you able to do that Camlobe?

It might be a last-minute rescue effort like the Prince – that had sat there for twenty years then suddenly it had to be moved before the following weekend or it was going to be scrapped. Still, as long as the opportunity is allowed to save this T-bird then I’m sure those interested can get to it and get it moved.

Good Luck to whoever takes this on.

Does anybody have any history on the jet to post?

Anon.

Anon.

Yes Tim…. had a “borrowed” fin on there with “05” tailcode.

Is this XL618 that was on the fire dump at Cottesmore for quite a few years?

Tim S

The legs still had pressure in them as the “shiny” portions were as they should be, so we must be looking at some 1500psi in there if those legs haven’t collapsed yet. Bill T.

Main Oleo’s long since lost their pressure judging by this photo from 2012 showing the links folded flat (zero pressure)?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/74093430@N08/6815927706/sizes/o/

Guys, WARNING !!!

Anyone working in or around this hunter should be very mindful that 10-12 years ago I noticed there was bad corrosion on the main legs. I was actually trying to help the Museum inhibit as much as we could at the time. The legs still had pressure in them as the “shiny” portions were as they should be, so we must be looking at some 1500psi in there if those legs haven’t collapsed yet. So be warned !!! and take a deflator cap (or Rig) and drop those leg pressures first. Eye up the Nose Oleo strut as well while you are there.

The main wheels were also inflated and sunk into ground, they were badly corroded in places too and still had pressure in them, though I would think they would be deflated by now. However, better safe than sorry, get a deflator cap on them too.

My interest in that Hunter was because it was at Valley same time as me and I wished(and still do) to see it preserved. I was one of the team that dismantled the Percival Prince years later and boy does she look nice now at Liverpool. Hats off to everyone who helped and contributed to saving her.

Bill T.

Its Caernarfon ! There was little or no notice that the Prince was going to have its rear fuselage cut off !!

As the admin of both the Hawker Hunter Appreciation Society group mentioned above, as well as a Brawdy one (she’s ex-Brawdy) I have spread the word as much as possible on facebook in the hope that something can be done. God knows why the decision has been made to suddenly scrap this airframe – no hint of it coming up as available should anyone have wanted to make an offer previously?

The Hunter is perfectly preservable as a complete machine ! There doesn’t need to be a clammer to believe that the only thing saveable is the cockpit! The preservation of Hunters in the U.K is patchy at best with far too much emphasis on preserving former Danish examples .

I saw this couple of weeks ago, it looked scruffy but not that bad. Being opposite the museum I thought it was theirs. The Hunter is a car’s length to the right.