Hunter with RAIDs pod?

[Gemini IV]

This is my first post on PPrune so please be gentle.....!
I have just returned from a weekend at RIAT 2016 where I was delighted to see a Hunter in the static (shame she wasn't flying a display....). Can anyone explain why she was carrying a RAIDs pod?

[Stitchbitch]

Sounds like a Hawker Hunter Aviation (HHA) aircraft, they operate a number of Hunters in support of UK MOD.

[bobward]

It did have 'Hawker Hunter Aviation' painted on the top of the fuselage ZZ191, Hunter F58 ex Swiss Air Force. It also still carried the extra hardpoints just infront of the undercarriage bays - for Mavericks (?) if I remember correctly.


....and it did look very well cared for too!!:D:D:D

[RAFEngO74to09]

Read all about HHA here - some nice photos:


Hawker Hunter Aviation | (http://hunterteam.com/)

[RimBim]

But HHA haven't been kitted to carry the RAIDS pod - that idea fell through some years ago I thought? Even though HHA were v. enthusiastic trying to interest Coningsby in the Hunter doing Red air!
From where did they get the pod!!!!

[RAFEngO74to09]

RimBim,

See this PR.

Hawker Hunter Aviation | » JULY 2016 ? HHA and IAI DEMONSTRATE ?RAIDS? TECHNOLOGY at the ROYAL INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO (http://hunterteam.com/uncategorised/july-2016-hha-and-iai-demonstrate-raids-technology-at-the-royal-international-air-tattoo/)

[RimBim]

I see, having looked at the HHA site - from IAI. A cutaway model. Bless 'em. And good luck Simon!

[4Greens]

Have flown the Hunter T8 but never heard of a RAIDS pod. What do the initials stand for ?

[Chesty Morgan]

Rangeless Airborne Instrumented Debriefing System.

[salad-dodger]

RAIDS - Rangeless Airborne Instrumented Debriefing System.

S-D

[Martin the Martian]

bobward-

Under the Hunter 80 programme 40 Mk.58s were given the ability to carry Maverick, the missile being carried on the outer pylon with an adapted missile rail. The extra inboard rail was possibly fitted for AIM-9s, but pictures of them carrying anything on them are very rare, and I have only seen photos of practice bomb carriers and what may be a target towing gizmo in those positions.

[insty66]

Any more info, I have an interest in this..

[Chris Kebab]

Get in touch with Mat P through the HHA site Insty - thoroughly decent chap who can talk for hours on his Hunters and what they can do:ok:

[DD24.5C]

Picking up on another post, you'll be telling me they are positioning themselves for ASDOT next! Don't think they are in the same ball park, never mind the same league to those who have tipped their hats so far.....

[RimBim]

Well, the Hunter may still be a jolly good and fast jet, but using a 40-50 yr old as an aggressor against a Typhoon? Street cred alone for the latter? Like!
Also, tricky to find space in the Hunter for some sort of SA display.
Interesting though.

[Martin the Martian]

Northern Lights and ATAC seem to be happy to use Hunters as Red Air alongside A-4s, Kfirs, Alpha Jets and L.39s.

[Evalu8ter]

RimBim,
It all depends what threat you're training against. ASDOT has already suggested that the retained T1 Typhoons will be the "need peer" Gen4/4.5 threat emulators, but there are plenty of airforces flying older aircraft still, including several flying subsonic FGA aircraft which the Hunter can quite adequately replicate. As with all T&E/Red Air Opfor it's also dependant on the kit; we used to use the Cobham DA20s to replicate BVR red air when the F3s/Typhoons couldn't provide. With the right operator in a surrogate airframe with some clever emulation, an awful lot of good training can be achieved at relatively low cost.

[RAFEngO74to09]

RimBim,

As I posted on the ASDOT thread, Draken International are now providing contracted services at the Nellis AFB on a trial basis after 65 AS (F-15C) was disbanded,

Official Nellis AFB video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJdfA0tRr0U

Articles here:

News & Press Releases | Draken International (http://www.drakenintl.com/news-2015-6.html)

Why Is the Air Force Using Jet-Flying Mercenaries? | The National Interest Blog (http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/why-the-air-force-using-jet-flying-mercenaries-14970)

http://www.fighterpilotuniversity.co...retirement-gig (http://www.fighterpilotuniversity.com/alumni-house/alumni-news/retirement-gig)

Company Website: Draken International (http://drakenintl.com/)

[Martin the Martian]

Mm, not sure that calling them mercenaries is strictly accurate. Last time I checked the Geneva Convention has a strict definition of the word and it relates to armed conflict. Unless the USAF are carrying out some VERY realistic training.