Originally Posted by
Herod
Where is the Hunter? The "target" ones, if still in service, are commercial companies I think.
But to operate they are on the MIL register with Mil serial numbers ZZ191 amongst them, and are based out of Scampton, the advantage of being on the MIl register means for trial work they can avoid any modification problems and when the Hunter was grounded these could continue in service, they also have a mothballed Bucc that can be generated, an SU22 and also an ex German Phantom.
https://www.hunterteam.com/aboutus/
After extensive negotiations HHA acquired the aircraft on the 14 January 1999 when it was flown to our maintenance facility at RAF Scampton. When delivered, the aircraft had accrued only 767 flight hours in 743 flights and became the youngest & lowest houred aircraft in our fleet.
The SU22M4 is currently in storage in HHA’s RAF Scampton, undergoing regular anti-det maintenance and custodial ground runs. The aircraft, its systems and spares are maintained in such a condition that it can readily be reactivated to flight status, should a contractual tasking arise which requires the performance and flight envelope of the SU22 platform.
After over 2750 hours of design verification and critical system analysis work by HHA staff, the aircraft was classified in the BCAR A8-20 ‘Complex’ category for civilian use.
XX885 is currently in storage at HHA’s RAF Scampton facility undergoing regular anti-det maintenance and custodial ground runs. The aircraft, it’s systems and spares are maintained in such a condition that it can readily be reactivated to flight status should a contractual tasking arise which requires the performance & flight envelope of the Buccaneer platform.
They will all be adopting this scheme BTW
ZZ191 Hunter Team Hawker Hunter F.58 at RIAT 2018 R.A.F Fairford Gloucestershire (EGVA) by
shamu28, on Flickr
Phantom ‘Phorce’
In recent years, a couple of ex-German F-4F Phantoms have also joined HHA’s line up, one of which will be on static display this weekend. Like the Hunters, they’re not flyby- wire, but they’re extremely fast and can carry a huge variety of equipment.
“The Phantoms will enable us to undertake various tasking that involve supersonic flight,” says Mat. “There’s one F-4F that is about to commence overhaul in Germany, and the other is here at Scampton, which we currently use as a ground procedures trainer. They will eventually fly on the UK military register with the one currently still in Germany having had the registration ZK848 allocated to it. The acquisition process has taken a long time, because it has meant dealing with ITAR [International Traffic in Arms Regulations] and included working with the US Department of Defence, the German MoD and the MoD here in Britain – so a lot of people generating a lot of paperwork have been involved in the process.
“It’s a supersonic fighter jet with modern systems fitted within, so getting them ready was always going to be a complex affair, and one that we are determined to do correctly and get right. Remember that the aircraft itself is only the tip of the iceberg as far as the infrastructure and certification processes that have to be established to operate the type. All of our activity is audited and endorsed by the MAA, and with that relationship in place we are able to make this work.”
Only know as there was an article in a magazine I read lately, they have put the small engined hunters in storage and are operating the Avon 200 models as that engine is still being overhauled where as the 100 is'nt.
https://www.hunterteam.com/hunterteam_news/