Hunter T.7 XL623
 

Hunter T7 XL 623 Rescue Project

The Hawker Association has taken on an exiting project to rescue and renovate the last Hunter T7 built. This fits with our aims to keep alive the spirit and memories of the Hawker aviation companies by publicising their achievements, their people and their products.

XL623 has sat on top of a pole in the centre of Woking for 22 years and is in poor condition, but assisted by Brooklands Museum we will renovate the aircraft and put it back on static display in a new location in Surrey.

The Hunter was originally installed in Woking outside an aviation themed nightclub that closed many years ago. Woking Borough Council inherited the aircraft, but by 2017 its appearance, condition and location were causing concern.

Following discussions between the Council, Brooklands Museum and the Hawker Association it was decided that we would take on ownership of the aircraft and manage the renovation and relocation project. XL 623 was moved to Dunsfold on 24 July 2018, and we are grateful to the Rutland Group for their offer of storage assistance.

XL623 has been donated so our limited financial resources have not been affected. The fundamental principle that the Committee will operate to is that the project must be self-financing; fund raising will take place before any expenditure is agreed. As Brooklands will work on the airframe in their new purpose-built aviation heritage skills training centre, costs should be low and manageable. If the project becomes impracticable at any stage it can be put on hold without the Association incurring any financial liability.

The next stage is to fully assess the condition of the airframe to establish the scope of the preservation task. At present we aim to complete the project by the end of 2019, but a full survey will indicate whether this is realistic or otherwise. A number of potential locations have been identified and a parallel activity will take place to prepare for a new installation.





Chris Roberts





from initial study to lower XP 623 on to a lorry (16:30). Excellent to the ground by .

Since I have flown several marks of Hunter may I wish you all the very best with you project.

Were I a rich man I would try to help.

Dook,
Thank you.
If you have flown XL623 in the past would you be so kind as to share your experiences, good, bad or otherwise?

Kieron.

I would have to check my log books, which are somewhere in the loft.

Was that airframe ever at Chivenor do you know ?

Yes, arrived at Chivenor on the 11th September 1963, where she became "88/229OCU".Remained at Chivenor until disbanding and subsequent move to Brawdy as "TWU", 2nd/3rd September 1974.

I have a copy of Form 78 but I am having some problems up-loading the pages to PPruNe.

Kieron.

Form 78 as follows and the Dunsfold ATC log.

17th January 1959 first flight at Dunsfold, pilot Flt.Lt Gole (Indian AF).
20th January 1959, pilot David Lockspeiser.
26th January 1959, pilot David Lockspeiser with Wg.Cdr Dhatigara (Indian AF).
4th February 1959 delivered to RAF Kemble/5MU, pilot Flt.Lt Hannah.
18th March 1960 to 65 Squadron at Duxford.
21st April 1960 to 54 Squadron at Stradishall.
1st June 1960 to Y/92 Squadron at Middleton-St-George.
30th August 1960 to 43 Squadron at Leuchars.
24th September 1960 to 1 Squadron at Stradishall.
8th November 1960 to 19 Squadron at Leconfield.
16th December 1960 to " Fighter Command Pool".
1st February 1961 to 74 Squadron at Coltishall.
31st August 1961 to 19MU St.Athan.
29th November 1962 to 5MU Kemble.
20th February 1963 to 19MU St.Athan.
18th March 1963 to 54 Squadron Waterbeach.
14th June 1963 19MU St.Athan.
11th September 1963 to 88/229OCU at Chivenor.
3rd September 1974 to 88/TWU at Brawdy.
--February 1980 to 5MU Kemble.
30th July 1980 to 90/1.TWU at Brawdy.
3rd December 1982 to Cosford for GI as 8770M.
--April 1988 to RAF Dog training at Newton.
!st September 1996 to H.G Wells "The Planets", Woking, Surrey.
24th July 2018 to Dunsfold.
First parts at Brooklands January 2019

Kieron.

I flew the Hunter at Chivenor in 1967 and Brawdy 1978.

I flew XL623 a couple of times at RAF Brawdy:

23 Jan 1976 - Convex 2 (1:00 with 4 landings) - then solo in an F6A in the afternoon.
After finishing TWU, I was posted to 58 Sqn at RAF Wittering, but the squadron disbanded before I could fly with them, so back I went to Brawdy. 3 months of flying Hunters in the summer of '76 - what magic!

3 Sep 1976 - LL Nav / GH (0:50 with 3 landings). During that trip we heard another Hunter T7 return to Brawdy deadstick with an engine failure - which landed successfully. That was my last T7 trip, although I also flew some T7A and T8B trips at Honington that Autumn whilst struggling with the Bucc course - unsuccessfully.

Good luck with your project!

Thanks for your contributions.
Are there any more "PPRuNers" out there in PPRuNe land who have flown XL623 or any ground crew who have worked on XL623?
The Hawker Association would like to hear from you, in order to tell the "story" of XL623.
The a/c was not only the last Hunter T7 built for the Royal Air Force but also the last "new build" Hunter for the RAF.
Kieron.

For what it may be worth I flew XL623 four times as a student at Chivenor in 1969 and,ten years later, as an insructor seventeen times at Brawdy. All were uneventful but my 800+ hours on the various marks of Hunter are fondly remembered

2000 hours on the Hunter. Flew 17 sorties in XL 623 when I was a tactics instructor/IRE on 234 Squadron at Chivenor, Mar 67 - Jan 68.

Prior to that two years in Aden, one at West Raynham. After Chivenor, two years at Muharraq. Thence four at Valley.

Thank you gentlemen, your contributions are welcome.

From the Dunsfold ATC log, the following:
4th February 1959 delivered to RAF Kemble/5MU, pilot Flt.Lt Hannah.
Maybe one of the well known Hannahs?

Kieron.

Ray was Hanna sans the 'end-H'

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....55a4b53444.jpg
Finally a copy of the Form 78 thanks to my partner Chris.

Kieron.

The hand written Dunsfold ATC log has the "end H".

Kieron.

Would your partner Chris by any chance be the ex Dunsfold TP of that name?

A very simple answer-no.

Kieron.