 This left little power for forward thrust, and the aircraft was limited to low speeds, but the takeoff speed was a mere , a speed most light aircraft would have trouble matching.On 26 March 1963, the maiden flight of the first Hunting H.126, serial number "XN714", occurred.Flown from RAE Bedford (presently Bedford Aerodrome, it was piloted by S. B. Oliver, Hunting Aircraft's chief test pilot.