View Full Version : Hawker Hunter Jet returns to Scotland
A Hawker Hunter jet's engine that was used in Pinochet's Chilean coup in the 1970s has made its way back to Scotland. After the coup, a set of engines were sent to the Rolls-Royce factory in East Kilbride for repairs, where the workers blacked it in protest. At some point, it was stolen from Rolls-Royce and returned to Chile, and now these filmmakers have located and returned it to be displayed in 2018.
There's a documentary called Nae Pasaran about the workers and their story, as well as what happened in Chile.
Have any of you heard about this story? There's a Kickstarter to finish the film and one of the rewards is a blade from the jet used in the film.
I can't post a link but it's Nae Pasaran dot com and it's on Facebook, too.
the workers blacked it in protest
Yup, usual bunch of 'useful idiot' 'International Socialists' led by Marxists.
Strikes during wartime were not uncommon.
Strikes during wartime (http://www.labournet.net/ukunion/0305/wartime1.html)
Have had the same in Oz during WWII, Korea and Vietnam - unions blocking supplies to troops.
DaveReidUK
8th Dec 2017, 08:28
A Hawker Hunter jet that was used in Pinochet's Chilean coup in the 1970s has made its way back to Scotland.
Er, no it hasn't.
It's the Avon engine from a Chilean Hunter, not the aircraft itself, that has been returned.
https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/019/278/798/89d9e197a6fe42a46c359da5a44d0a50_original.JPG?w=680&fit=max&v=1510949073&auto=format&q=92&
DaveReidUK
8th Dec 2017, 08:29
Yup, usual bunch of 'useful idiot' 'International Socialists' led by Marxists.
Should we charitably assume that you've never heard of Pinochet or what he did to seize and maintain power in Chile ?
Should we charitably assume that you've never heard of Pinochet or what he did to seize and maintain power in Chile ?
I've heard of him and his doings but he's hardly unique in Latin America.
After the coup, a set of engines were sent to the Rolls-Royce factory in East Kilbride for repairs...
Ah - this must have been one of those rare multi-engined hunters that were originally built for the attack on the unobtanium ore mines in south Somewhereistan...
PDR
Raikum
8th Dec 2017, 14:20
I've heard of him and his doings but he's hardly unique in Latin America.
Ah so that makes his conduct all right then...:ugh:
I seem to remember you've got form for some fairly outrageous statements on other topics on this forum...
DaveReidUK
8th Dec 2017, 14:52
After the coup, a set of engines were sent to the Rolls-Royce factory in East Kilbride for repairs
The OP got that part right - a total of 4 Avon engines were involved, all spirited back to Chile after four years at the factory, though it's not clear whether they went back into service. One has now been returned to Scotland with a view to eventually putting it on display as a memorial:
https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/019/278/798/89d9e197a6fe42a46c359da5a44d0a50_original.JPG?w=680&fit=max&v=1510949073&auto=format&q=92&http://www.avgen.com/Avon.jpg
The film is worth seeing - non-Scots viewers may regret the lack of sub-titles. :O
Nae Pasaran (2013)
My mistake, it should've read "jet's engine" not just "jet" – just a typo. Apparently, the feature will be subtitled throughout! The Kickstarter project ends next Wednesday.
El Bunto
12th Dec 2017, 17:23
In 1965 RR was ordered to embargo 14 Rhodesian Avons that were in the UK for servicing. I never did hear what happened to them and whether they too eventually 'escaped'
Basil
13th Dec 2017, 17:45
In 1965 RR was ordered to embargo 14 Rhodesian Avons that were in the UK for servicing. I never did hear what happened to them and whether they too eventually 'escaped'
I guess if HMG tell you to refuse to service them then you've little option :(
DaveReidUK
13th Dec 2017, 19:00
In 1965 RR was ordered to embargo 14 Rhodesian Avons that were in the UK for servicing. I never did hear what happened to them and whether they too eventually 'escaped'
Doubtful, given that RR were implementing Government policy, unlike the situation with the Chilean engines where the authorities were clearly complicit in the operation to retrieve them.
There's a story, which could well be apochryphal (though it was reported in Flight) that the Rhodesians organised a clandestine mission to Sharjah, where the RAF had apparently abandoned a bunch of Hunters when they withdrew. The engines were supposedly removed from the aircraft and flown back to Rhodesia.
Sounds a bit fishy to me.
Compass Call
25th Dec 2017, 20:20
DaveReidUK
Maybe not so fishy. The Omani government supplied spares to the Rhodesians.
Civilian cargo aircraft were flown in to a desert strip empty and flew out laden with aircraft spares. Whether from Omani stocks or just trans-shipped I don't know.
Wander00
26th Dec 2017, 08:59
DR - I will ask my former QFI, a Rhodesian who flew in their Air Force
DaveReidUK
26th Dec 2017, 19:22
Maybe not so fishy. The Omani government supplied spares to the Rhodesians.
Yes, it's well known that the RhAF/AFZ made use of spares sourced from Oman.
It's the bit about the RAF leaving a bunch of Hunters behind when they left Sharjah that I'm having trouble believing.
Kieron Kirk
27th Dec 2017, 08:55
"It's the bit about the RAF leaving a bunch of Hunters behind when they left Sharjah that I'm having trouble believing."
Neither do I. All RAF Hunter Mk.9s and 10s that flew out of Sharjah are accounted for.
Does anyone know otherwise?
Kieron.
Basil
27th Apr 2018, 17:27
Ah so that makes his conduct all right then...:ugh:
I seem to remember you've got form for some fairly outrageous statements on other topics on this forum...
Really? Where?