RichB
Well-known member
I'm going to leave the Mustang Ranch and head east, across the pond for this one.
How do we make a GA.11? In 1962-63, the Royal Navy acquired 40 ex-RAF F.4's to be used for training. They were overhauled and converted by Hawker Aircraft before joining their FAA squadrons. During the refurbishment they had their guns and Sabrinas removed, TACAN installed, F.6 "dog tooth" wings installed and a field arrestor hook installed. Some that were to be used for training fleet air defence gunners, also had a Harley light installed in the nose. There were also some that received the F.10 camera nose and were known as PR.11.
In June 1962 738 NAS received their first Hunters at RNAS Lossiemouth. They were tasked with conducting low-level navigation, weapons delivery and air-to-air fighting training. In January 1964 they transferred to RNAS Bawdry, joining 759 NAS at the Naval Advanced Flying Training School. After completing Phase 1 training with 759 NAS, students passed to 738 NAS for Phase 2 fighter weapons and tactics training. The squadron was decommissioned in May 1970 and its Hunters passed to other squadrons.
In the summer of 1965, 738 NAS formed an air display team, the "Rough Diamonds", consisting of 4 GA.11's. The Team Leader's (Lt Cdr Christopher Comins) aircraft was adorned with a day-glo orange spine, wingtips and band around the nose on the FAA standard Extra Dark Sea Grey over White scheme. The team was disbanded in 1969. Hunter XE680/789 was Lt Cdr Comins' mount for the 1967 season and is included on the Cutting Edge Hunter decal sheet. XE680 was lost in a fatal crash on 03 Mar 1969 when SLt Hugh Mansel-Smith was killed on ejection conducting a low-level, simulated attack on a target near Dolhelfa.
For those that may be wondering how a Hunter relates to Equidae. The Hunter, while not a breed, is a class of horse. They can be either the traditional working hunter that negotiates the creeks, ditches, walls and fences of the countryside or the more refined and competitive show hunter in the ring.
A trivia note, Hunter was not the first choice for the name of Hawker's new aircraft. The name Demon had been chosen but just before they were to christen it, McDonnell Douglas unveiled their own Demon, the F3H.
Tally Ho!
Rich
How do we make a GA.11? In 1962-63, the Royal Navy acquired 40 ex-RAF F.4's to be used for training. They were overhauled and converted by Hawker Aircraft before joining their FAA squadrons. During the refurbishment they had their guns and Sabrinas removed, TACAN installed, F.6 "dog tooth" wings installed and a field arrestor hook installed. Some that were to be used for training fleet air defence gunners, also had a Harley light installed in the nose. There were also some that received the F.10 camera nose and were known as PR.11.
In June 1962 738 NAS received their first Hunters at RNAS Lossiemouth. They were tasked with conducting low-level navigation, weapons delivery and air-to-air fighting training. In January 1964 they transferred to RNAS Bawdry, joining 759 NAS at the Naval Advanced Flying Training School. After completing Phase 1 training with 759 NAS, students passed to 738 NAS for Phase 2 fighter weapons and tactics training. The squadron was decommissioned in May 1970 and its Hunters passed to other squadrons.
In the summer of 1965, 738 NAS formed an air display team, the "Rough Diamonds", consisting of 4 GA.11's. The Team Leader's (Lt Cdr Christopher Comins) aircraft was adorned with a day-glo orange spine, wingtips and band around the nose on the FAA standard Extra Dark Sea Grey over White scheme. The team was disbanded in 1969. Hunter XE680/789 was Lt Cdr Comins' mount for the 1967 season and is included on the Cutting Edge Hunter decal sheet. XE680 was lost in a fatal crash on 03 Mar 1969 when SLt Hugh Mansel-Smith was killed on ejection conducting a low-level, simulated attack on a target near Dolhelfa.
For those that may be wondering how a Hunter relates to Equidae. The Hunter, while not a breed, is a class of horse. They can be either the traditional working hunter that negotiates the creeks, ditches, walls and fences of the countryside or the more refined and competitive show hunter in the ring.
A trivia note, Hunter was not the first choice for the name of Hawker's new aircraft. The name Demon had been chosen but just before they were to christen it, McDonnell Douglas unveiled their own Demon, the F3H.
Tally Ho!
Rich
