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HAWKER HUNTER

Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2009 - pic by Nigel Key
Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2009 ©Nigel Key

ROLE
Fighter / Fighter-bomber / Ground Attack / Reconnaissance.

FIRST FLIGHT
20 June 1951.

The P.1067 was designed by Sidney Camm around the new Rolls Royce Avon turbojet which had a smaller engine diameter than its predecessor, the Rolls Royce Nene allowing for smaller size but providing greater thrust.

Due to the increased performance of the Rolls Royce Avon, P.1067 was able to be fitted with a single engine and yet still give the same power output as the Gloster Meteor which was fitted with two Rolls Royce Derwent engines.

The prototype evolved to the now familiar shape of the Hunter with modifications from an original 'T'-tail to a more conventional swept tail, a single air intake was changed to two air intakes at the roots of each wing which made room for radar and weapons in the nose of the aircraft.

A second prototype was fitted with production avionics, armament, powered by a Rolls Royce Avon 107 turbojet and first flew on the 5th of May 1952.

As an alternative, a third prototype was fitted with an Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 101 axial turbojet which flew on the 30th of November 1952.

The Hawker Hunter was ordered by the Ministry of Supply with the F.1 first flying on the 16th of March 1953. It featured an all metal, monocoque construction with retractable 'tricycle' landing gear and had a removable rear section to allow access to the engine for maintenance purposes.

The wings are mid-mounted and have a leading edge sweep of 35 degrees. The aircraft was controlled in a conventional manner and had a single air brake located under the rear fuselage. The pilot was seated on either a Mk 2H or Mk 3H Martin-Baker ejector seat with the 2-seat trainer version using Mk 4H ejector seats.

The Hunter was fitted with four 30mm Aden cannon, each with 150 rounds of ammunition, which were housed in a single removable pack that could be removed for the aircraft for rapid re-arming and maintenance as necessary.

PRODUCTION
The Hawker Hunter was produced from 1951, with 1,972 built.

ENGINE
Rolls Royce Avon RA.28 Mk 207, producing 10,150 lb st.

ARMAMENT
4 x Aden 30mm cannon
2,000 lb (907 kg) Bomb/Rocket load

The Hawker Hunter F.1 was the first high-speed jet with radar and powered controls to enter service with the RAF, which it did in July of 1954. The Hunter replaced the Meteor, the Sabre and the Venom in service.

The Hawker Hunter served with the Royal Air Force for over 30 years with hundreds still being active around the world as late as 1996.

Crew - 1 (2 in Trainer)
Length - 45ft 10.5in (13.98m)
Wingspan - 33ft 8in (10.26m)
Height - 13ft 2in (4.01m)
Empty Weight - 14,400lb (6,532kg)
Max. Weight - 24,600lb (11,158kg)
Max. Speed - 620 mph (978 km/h)
Range - 1,840 miles (2,961 km)


PHOTOGRAPHS

Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key
Kemble 2011 Kemble 2011 Kemble 2011
Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key
Kemble 2011 Kemble 2011 Kemble 2011
Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key
Kemble 2011 Kemble 2011 Kemble 2011
Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key
Kemble 2011 Kemble 2011 Kemble 2011
Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2009 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2009 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2011 - pic by Nigel Key
Kemble 2009 Kemble 2009 Kemble 2011
Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2009 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2009 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2009 - pic by Nigel Key
Kemble 2009 Kemble 2009 Kemble 2009
Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2008 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2008 - pic by Nigel Key Hawker Hunter, Kemble 2009 - pic by Nigel Key
Kemble 2008 Kemble 2008 Kemble 2009


Photos copyright of ©Nigel Key




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