Trio of Hunters for Coventry

After a long day up at the Museum today, I popped down the road to have a look at the one Hunter that was visible from the old airport entrance – GA11 WV256. Apologies for the naff photo, but camera phone on zoom as no security about to ask to get closer, and didn’t want to get caught without asking first etc…. 😮

Thanks for that Roger, im going to follow that up now!

When I was there yesterday I noticed that a set of steps were up at the side of the fuselage but IIRC the door was shut. There was a second set of steps standing under one engine (port outer??). That was oserving from a distance.

Roger Smith.

I do hope she flies this summer, ive not seen a canberra fly before!

963 is always locked, and the steps laid down on the ground, when the chaps arrived today the door was unlocked and the steps were up against the fuselage… We know it was no one in the SPT so we’re all slightly confused who else has a key to our aircraft :confused:

Id heard that she might fly again before the end of this summer?

Also found out that someone has been inside of WR963 that isnt SPT…

Posible,but I think there is a lot of work to do before she does.

Oh? It’s normally locked isn’t it Ben?

Id heard that she might fly again before the end of this summer?

Also found out that someone has been inside of WR963 that isnt SPT…

If im not mistaken, WK163 takes the 100 series Avon? Its taken 4/5 years to find a decent one now?

‘163 is fitted with Avon 109’s.

Thanks Tim, I think we both know the background sufficiently to be wary eh?

Very nicely put Pete! 😎

Maybe I’m putting my head on the chopping block by saying this, but from what I’ve seen and heard – “starting” the restoration was a term to be taken very very loosely…. Transfering the airframe to another location just becomes another group’s headache. No doubt some continuity and funding could have got the old girl airworthy before, but the task ahead is probably not going to be quite as simplistic as it may have been….

That’s my own personal view – and I’m an avid Hunter fan.

During 2006, WT722 was moved by road to Kemble where it was placed under the care of Delta Jets. Air Atlantique now owns the aeroplane and Delta Jets began a restoration programme on its behalf during the summer of 2007 to restore WT722 to flying condition.
Once airworthy, it will add to its impressive tally of over 9,500 flying hours and over 12,500 landings!

Taken from the above link 🙂

Bad hyperlinks there?

WT723

XE685

Strange when they got rid of a GA.11 not so long ago! – I am not that optomistic on a GA.11 flying again when engines (Avon 100 series) must be a commodity now and Swiss Hunters are quite easily available.

There is one GA.11 still flying, XE685/861 G-GAII.
There’s also the sole surviving PR.11 WT723/866 G-PRII which is airworthy but painted in RAF colours…

XE689 would appear only useful for spares now. WT722 is an old girl and I don’t think she’s flown for at least 13 years, probably longer.

If im not mistaken, WK163 takes the 100 series Avon? Its taken 4/5 years to find a decent one now?

Id also heard that MC was not that interested in aircraft that cant fly? One of them might yet fly?

Strange when they got rid of a GA.11 not so long ago! – I am not that optomistic on a GA.11 flying again when engines (Avon 100 series) must be a commodity now and Swiss Hunters are quite easily available.

re;

looks like a tidy up of the spares, with the a/c going to a good home.

Third one will be XE689 (see pic link) courtesy of Thunder & Lightnings website

I know Historic Aero Services moved them all from Kemble 😉

And the two single seaters are static unless someone’s got one huge pot of money…. WT722 is planned as a long term restoration to flight according to Classic Flight’s updated NEWS page..

At shortly before 10pm last night we took delivery of our Hunter T.8 (WT722) from Kemble by road. This is a long-term restoration to flight project and will be displayed alongside two other Hunters at AIRBASE. XE689 and XF300 are both Hunter GA.11s and are currently en route from Kemble to Coventry on the back of lorries.

Will they be flyers, or statics?