I saw a Hunter from the train
 

Travelling from Bedford to Brighton last weekend by train. Somewhere, just past Mill Hill (on the RH side), I noticed what looked like a hunter behind a building but clearly visible from the train.

Can anyone give me some history for this aircraft?

MTIA

What you saw was the Hawker Hunter parked out the back of RAF Hendon. Sorry I don't have any more details but I vaguely recall (and may be mistaken) that this aircraft was modified to resemble Neville Duke's speed record breaking flight in time for some anniversary.

Blimey, that was RAF Hendon, I'd never have guessed.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Hunter from Train
 

Hi

If the Hunter you saw was outside at Hendon, then its a former Oman AF machine. The aircraft in question is a Hunter FR-10, serial 853. The aircraft was a gift from Oman to the RAF and was delivered to Brize Norton in 2003. The aircraft was then delivered to Hendon and is now displayed outside.

Hope this helps.

Hunty

FYI There will be a Hunter performing next Sunday and BH Monday at the Southend Airshow along with 1000's of Essex chavs.

As a small aside, what will the Chavs be performing?

Hi Boris,
Thread drift but Hari-Kari I hope!:D:D:D:D

With ref the large numbers of chav's attending I trust the Hunter's avionics will have been hardened to prevent EMI from the chav's ASBO tags ?

Eagle402

Avionics? In a Hunter? Come on fellers, the Hunter was a proper hand-flown aeroplane, navigated by looking out of the window. (My 'avionics' apprenticeship was mostly on Hunter E&I.)

As an aside, look at the effect, or rather the lack thereof, on a V Bomber's systems from the detonation of their own weapon during Operation Grapple. So, are transistors and chips really an advance, or was Wally Parkhouse ahead of his time?

(Some of you ex-brats out there may, like me, have fond memories of Wally)

If the Hunter you saw was outside at Hendon, then its a former Oman AF machine. The aircraft in question is a Hunter FR-10, serial 853. The aircraft was a gift from Oman to the RAF and was delivered to Brize Norton in 2003. The aircraft was then delivered to Hendon and is now displayed outside.

It was a quick glance admittedly but in no way did it look like it was being displayed. It looked as though it was dumped 'round back'.

Me and the family will be going to Southend this Sunday, hopefully, the weather will be a darn site kinder than it was last year!!

Wally Parkhouse
 

Like you Balcksheep, I was taught electrics by the brown dustcoated Wally in the early 60's.

B4 being accused of going off thread, the Hunter Mk4 (straight leading edge?) was the training tool for E & I brats at Workshops until we got to 'play' with the Vulcans down at the airfield. Appeared much the same as Hunter only 4 times more systems.

Back to wally, who had a reputation, as I remember it, of making the 'interesting subject' of electrics even more difficult for us who at the time couldn't tell positive from negative. Can still picture him though!