hunter british jet aircraft developed late 1940s early 1950s single seat hunter entered service fighter aircraft later operated fighter bomber reconnaissance roles numerous conflicts seat variants remained use training secondary roles royal_air_force raf royal_navy early 1990s hunter widely exported serving air forces years original introduction active service operated september modified prototype broke world air speed record jet powered aircraft achieving mph hunters raf display teams black arrows occasion looped record breaking examples formation later blue diamonds flew aircraft overall hunters produced licence british service aircraft replaced phantom development origins end second world war apparent jet propulsion future fighter development companies quick come airframe designs new means propulsion chief designer proposed raf failed interest modifications basic design resulted sea hawk carrier based fighter straight wing engine features rapidly obsolete seeking better performance designed essentially degree swept wing flying demonstrated good performance conducted carrier trials warrant development production aircraft private venture converted second prototype swept revised fuselage single jet exhaust rear flown june promising draw interest royal_australian_air_force raaf development stalled difficulties engine sole prototype lost crash issued daytime jet powered prepared new design swept winged fighter powered upcoming rolls major advantage earlier allowed smaller engine diameter provided greater thrust single engine gave roughly power rolls replaced new fighter march issued revised specification demanded speed mph high rate climb carrying armament cannon large calibre gun demanded earlier specifications initially fitted single air intake nose tail project rapidly evolved familiar hunter shape moved wing roots room weapons radar nose conventional tail arrangement devised result stability concerns flew july powered lbf engine second prototype fitted production armament lbf flew insurance development problems modified design accommodate lbf fitted prototype flew november ordered hunter production march fitted lbf flew march aircraft effect pre production series featured number modifications blown flaps area ruled fuselage september sole modified prototype flown broke world air speed record jet powered aircraft achieving mph record stood weeks broken september raf swift flown design overview hunter entered service royal_air_force aircraft jet aircraft produced raf outset clear type exceptional performance raf aircraft capable effectively matching bomber hunter set numerous aviation records including absolute speed records type lauded quick turnaround time enabled features gun pack system easy handling flight definitive version hunter majority export versions based swift initially politically favoured hunter proved far successful lengthy service life operators low maintenance requirements operating costs raf received newer aircraft capable speeds perform air role hunters modified equipped undertaking ground attack reconnaissance missions instead hunters deemed surplus raf requirements quickly refurbished continued service abroad hunter considerable number foreign nations addition raf aircraft roughly half nearly hunters produced manufactured specifically overseas customers hunter operational service raf years late hundreds active service operators world armament equipment single seat fighter versions hunter armed cannon rounds ammunition gun cannon ammunition boxes contained single pack removed aircraft rapid maintenance unusually barrels cannon remained aircraft pack removed changed seat version single cannon carried export versions ammunition tank later versions hunter fitted rocket projectiles round pods providing effective strike capability ground targets hunter featured nose mounted ranging radar providing automatic ranging aiming armaments equipment included mounted external fuel tanks forward facing gun camera large streamlined pods collecting expended shell cases beneath gun pack placing pods led plane getting humorous nickname resemble breasts variants fitted tail mounted brake typically export hunters equipped compatible additional types missiles air air missile air surface missile layout structure hunter conventional swept wing metal fuselage construction rear section engine maintenance engine fed triangular air wing roots single rear fuselage mid mounted wings leading edge sweep slight fin swept hunter aerodynamic qualities increasingly modifications later production models addition external containers collect spent gun fuel tanks increase range leading edge extensions resolve pitch control difficulties large ventral air brake airframe hunter consists major sections forward fuselage housing cockpit armament pack center fuselage including integral wing roots air rear fuselage tail unit assembly individually produced wings production divided major sections completed individually manufacturing type dispersed reduce vulnerability attack establishing initial rate production type difficult manufacturing hunter required development tool designs fixtures tools engine flew july powered lbf engine bomber second prototype fitted lbf prototype powered lbf production hunters fitted engine early hunter service engines proved poor surge margins suffered stalls cannon fired resulting fuel reducing fuel flow engine cannon fired satisfactory solution suffer problems better fuel economy powered hunters suffered engine failures raf elected supply maintenance canberra bomber engine raf sought thrust available series response rolls developed series engine wholly new design equipped new end surge problems chamber improved fuel control system resulting produced lbf thrust engine hunter operational history royal_air_force hunter entered service royal_air_force july high speed jet aircraft equipped radar fully powered flight controls widespread service raf hunter replaced sabre venom jet fighters service initially low internal fuel capacity restricted hunter performance giving maximum flight endurance hour tragic incident occurred february flight hunters airfield owing adverse weather conditions aircraft ran fuel crashed killing pilot difficulty encountered aircraft introduction occurrence engines engine suffer issue problems occurred ejected cannon ammunition links tendency strike damage underside fuselage gas emitted cannon firing necessary modification original split caused adverse changes pitch trim quickly replaced single ventral meant landings address problem range production fitted modified wing featured bag type fuel tanks leading edge wet resulting hunter flew october entered service march distinctive hunter feature added pair cockpit collected spent ammunition links prevent airframe damage crews dubbed contemporary movie star powered version designated raf later received hunters equipped improved engine produced lbf thrust fitted hunter revisions included revised fuel tank layout centre fuselage tanks replaced new ones rear fuselage wing distinctive leading edge notch alleviate pitch problem wet finally giving aircraft good ferry range hunter given company designation crisis hunters squadrons based cyprus flew escort bombers offensive missions egypt conflict hunters engaged local air defence lack range royal_air_force deployed hunters provide support british ground forces hunters launched dummy real runs ground targets pin rebels event hostages executed rebels hunter aircraft flew commando rescued hostages fierce battle following years hunters deployed raf aircraft borneo malaya hunter retired day fighter role raf replaced faster given new lease life close air support role converting variant saw use alongside closely related hunter tactical reconnaissance variant hunters raf display units black arrows squadron set record barrel rolling hunters formation later blue diamonds squadron flew hunters hunter squadron raf squadron raf extensively campaign insurgents attempting overthrow forces routinely air strikes required considerable precision predominantly inch high explosive rockets cannon hunter proved able ground attack platform squadrons continued operations hunters withdrew november hunters flown squadrons acting training roles foreign commonwealth students remained service hawk entered service mid-1970s seat trainer versions hunter remained use training secondary roles raf royal_navy early 1990s retired service requirement hunter trainers consequently retired india arranged purchase hunters wider arms deal britain ordering hunter single seat fighters time pakistan announced purchase north american sabre jet fighters operate hunter trainers placing initial order powerful engine considered beneficial hot environment allowing greater takeoff weights 1960s pakistan investigated possibility buying english britain potential sales opportunity damage relations india time awaiting delivery large numbers raf hunters outbreak sino indian war india assembled largest air forces asia hunter nation primary capable conflict hunter demonstrated superiority china russian sourced gave india strategic advantage air india aerial superiority chinese bombers attacking targets india india selected capable fighter large numbers russian built fighters increasingly supplemented aging hunters role hunter play major role pakistani war hunter india primary air defence fighter regularly engaged pakistani aerial war saw sides conducting thousands sorties single month sides claimed victory air war pakistan claimed destroyed aircraft losses india claimed destroyed enemy aircraft lost despite intense fighting conflict effectively stalemate performed extensive operations pakistani war india combat ready squadrons hunters start conflict pakistani infantry armoured forces attacked indian outpost event known battle hunters stationed air force base able halt pakistani advance conducting non stop bombing raids aircraft attacked pakistani tanks armoured personnel carriers gun positions contributed increasingly chaotic battlefield conditions ultimately led retreat pakistan ground forces hunters ground attack missions raids inside pakistan borders high profile bombing limit pakistani fuel supplies aftermath conflict pakistan claimed shot total india hunters unfavourable currency conditions conflicting pressures military budget prospective modern aircraft hold following war developed successful hoped decided retain fleets hunters bombers considering foreign aircraft replace hunter including soviet models indian government announced intention large portion assembled domestically october hunters phased service remaining single squadron operating hunter converting newer early 1950s saw need reach enemy bombers higher altitude formed backbone fighter force contract hunter 50s equivalent signed june aircraft delivered august model designated assigned wings defended stockholm armed cannon team late 1950s gradually replaced reassigned prominent air wings 1960s project improve performance resulted hunter fitted swedish designed significantly increased engine thrust little improvement overall performance project shelved retired service performed extensive evaluation aircraft prospective purchase competitors included pair hunters loaned swiss trials testing january government switzerland chose terminate independent fighter aircraft project development instead choosing order hunters replace existing fleet vampire fighters development indigenous discontinued initial order single seat hunters consisted refurbished raf new built swiss hunters operated secondary ground attack role onwards wing modified carry air air missiles ground attack role maintained arsenal conventional iron bombs number compatible bombs maintained intended use hunters role hunters supplemented surface air missile sam defence system united_kingdom based bristol portion hunter fleet permanently placed reserve sleeper squadrons housed remote mountain planned large scale conflict aircraft fly adjacent highways improvised flight demonstration team prominent decades squadron aircraft fitted smoke generators engine later painted distinctive red white group officially formed august hunter display aircraft withdrawn use team continued perform flight display newer aircraft hunter fleet endured attempts successor aircraft type case excessive cost poor project management attributes hunter second attempt replace hunter resulted competition eventually chosen winner purchased refurbished hunters trainers purchased instead plans laid replace hunter air air role modern fighter aircraft tiger hunter remained key role like raf hunter fleet type transitioned country primary ground attack platform replacing venom armament options raf aircraft cleared carry rockets instead elderly inch rockets raf carry bombs inner outer launch air air missiles change primary air ground role resulted hunter upgrade adding cluster bombs ability carry missiles 1990s discovery wing cracking lead quick scrapping hunter end cold war allowed switzerland retire hunters earlier expected taking delivery douglas ordered replacements type hunter completely withdrawn swiss service author stated retirement hunter definitively lost capability carry air ground operations republic singapore air force singapore enthusiastic operator hunter ordering aircraft massive expansion city state armed forces deliveries began completed time considerable international controversy generated britain later revealed refused sell hunters neighbouring malaysia sparking fears regional arms race accusations eventually received refurbished hunters equip squadrons late 1970s hunter fleet upgraded modified additional forward fuselage wired main gears bringing total seven external stores weapons delivery result upgrades redesignated black knights team flew hunters singapore fleet combat aircraft included tiger locally upgraded hunters active obsolete comparison type finally retired phased service surviving sold australian broker operated hunter shot israeli jet early 1960s pilot captured hunter shot day day war civil war eventually fell usage went storage 1980s august planned hunters service following lebanon conflict deal camp north tripoli programme delayed lack spare parts aircraft martin baker seats november years original introduction returned hunters service based single military exercises conducted hunters took place july hunters retired service africa 1950s important export customer britain purchasing hunters canberra bombers later deployed hunter extensively bush war late 1960s 1970s occasionally engaging cross border raids flown support loyalists second war reported involved civil war regime fleet hunters piloted servicemen carried bombing missions rebel units late 1980s belgium netherlands received hunter replace aircraft built licence belgium netherlands joint programme offshore funding built aircraft belgium built netherlands hunters nos wings serve long aircraft wing replaced scrapped belgian dutch governments subsequently ordered improved nos wings receiving built aircraft built netherlands aircraft assembled kits belgium operated wings wing disbanded hunter squadrons wing disbanded large number surviving hunters sold built export india iraq chile kuwait lebanon middle_east britain france delivered significant quantities arms including hunters iraq hunters far effective fighting guerrilla activity russian operated iraq hunters iraqi air force saw action day war israel neighbouring arab nations war attrition iraqi hunters usually operated bases egypt syria flying hunter flight lieutenant exchange shot israeli jets including aviation missions flown hunters destroyed ground day day war replacement hunters service acquired britain saudi_arabia war aftermath considerable success ground attacks tanks black september crisis south_america 1960s 1970s chile completed acquisition hunters britain service june oil tanker ran aground island accidentally releasing tons oil rescue crew vessel fired set fire effort burn oil avoid environmental contamination chilean coup état hunters military officers effort successfully overthrow socialist president chile september september coup leaders ordered hunters relocate preparation following morning aircraft conduct bombing missions presidential palace house radio stations loyal government signed contracts prior chilean coup état delivery seven hunters performing engine delivery equipment government prime minister delayed delivery aircraft vessels submarines order trade unions took action block delivery refurbished hunter engines plant october action led rolls workers hid engines factory government chile bestowed april highest civilian medal medal workers action solidarity war number hunters air chile arrangements providing support operations purchase hunters chile factor decision acquire hunters britain keen sell peru decision sell hunters chile controversial political issue british government following chilean coup sale upheld britain concept regional balancing variants operators military operators chile denmark iraq india jordan kenya kuwait lebanon netherlands peru saudi_arabia singapore sweden switzerland civil number civil organisations operate operated hunters use aerial targets threat simulation contract military hunters owned operated public display demonstration american company previously owned operated different hunter aircraft government work including trainer american company based international airport virginia company operates swiss united_states government contracts french_navy based france frequent deployments brittany locations required operates single seat hunters operations associated delta jets operated airport near england operational hunters company went operated academy dutch operates hunter markings single seat hunter dutch markings based air base netherlands chilean air force hunter flight test chase plane based operates fleet aircraft provide high speed operates miss privately owned flown display aircraft operates hunter seat hunter black arrows colours markings hunter based based wales maintain privately owned examples hunter aviation canadian company known northern lights combat air support based owns hunters mainly swiss variants leased military training duties thunder city hunters based cape town international airport south_africa seven hunters owned auction april display hunter brussels belgium hunter berlin germany wales hunter wales hunter static display hunter static display hunter including sections hunter hunter static display hunter fleet air arm museum somerset hunter mounted town centre hunter hunter painted blue represent formation teams lead hunter hunter newark trent hunter newark trent hunter fleet lincolnshire hunter gate guard hunter wiltshire accidents incidents february multiple aircraft accident sudden deterioration weather exercise norfolk england april flight tower bridge london july jet flown pilot crashed takeoff plane airborne climbed feet air right turn came airport turn passed airport losing altitude speed quickly soon hunter stalled impacted ground houses damaged pilot died impact casualties ground crash rest air canceled jet static display aerial performer pilot taken return home california near end crash occurred crash california october crash california august hunter crashed arterial road dual sea england taking people ground killed injured including pilot plane witnesses told local jet appeared crashed failed pull loop manoeuvre specifications hunter data great book fighters general characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area weight loaded weight max takeoff weight powerplant rolls lbf performance maximum speed mph sea level combat range nmi ferry range nmi external fuel service ceiling rate climb min wing loading thrust weight armament guns revolver cannon gun pack rpg essentially refurbished derived capacity provisions carry combinations rockets rocket pods rockets rockets missiles air air missiles mounted swiss dutch swedish surface missiles mounted swiss bombs variety iron bombs gallons imp gal drop tanks extended range time ranging radar notable appearances media
Hawker Hunter