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Hawker Hunter

History of Hawker Hunters

The Hawker Hunter was the jet fighter of choice for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy for decades from its birth, becoming the longest-serving British jet fighter at the time. Externally, the Hunter is a very traditional design, but the aircraft will continue to prove that it's more than just a nice look with a pair of wings. The time has finally come for the Hunter to be a replacement for the aging Gloster Meteors jet fighters the post-World War II jet fighters.

The Hunter became a popular mount for many British and foreign fighter pilots around the world, and while only 1,972 examples of this type were produced (with only five major variants), the Hunter has retained its legacy as a preeminent and legendary aircraft in the history of military aviation.

After World War II, Hawke, along with most other major aerospace companies, set out to find a powerful swept-wing aircraft design to complement the still-nascent jet era. Specifications passed on by the UK Department of Supply called for such an aircraft and ignited a flame in the minds of Hawke's engineers - especially chief designer Sydney Cam. Camm began work and produced an experimental design, which was eventually submitted for review as the Hawker P. 1052 prototype in 1947. The first of the two prototypes flew in November the following year. The P. 1052 was very similar to another existing Hawk design - the Hawk Seahawk - an early carrier-based straight-wing jet fighter.

The P. 1052 differed from its predecessor in that it had a wing sweep of 35 degrees, but it was essentially the same Seahawk. The quality and capability of this new aircraft design was deemed acceptable, although no further development was undertaken. Instead, Camm took the second P. 1052 prototype design and redesigned it as the new Hawker P. 1081 prototype. This particular version has the same swept wings, but also takes advantage of the swept back of all other airfoils on the tail.

Like the Seahawk, the P. 1081 is single-engined (though designed for the newer and smaller Rolls-Royce Avon range, not the larger Rolls-Royce Nene used by the Seahawk), nose-mounted There is only one engine on the air intake, a conventional tricycle landing gear and T-tail, all mounted on the tubular fuselage.

The original T. Mk 8 was based on two-seat models of the T. Mk 7, but these were built for the Royal Navy. They are equipped with a hook, corresponding to naval operations.

The T. Mk 8B is also equipped with the IFIS system on the T. Mk 7A model, but also has a TACAN radio navigation system installed. The Ekco ranging radar and her cannon weapon have been removed from this mod. The T. Mk 8C is a similar trainer with a built-in TACAN system.

T. Mk 8M as a converted trainer for future Royal Navy Sea Harrier pilots. The fighters are equipped with Harrier-style Blue Fox radar systems.

Hunter FGA. The Mk 9 was a dedicated single-seat ground attack version, while the FR. Mk 10 became a single reconnaissance version, both versions being used by the RAF. Hunter GA. The Mk 11 is a Royal Navy fighter jet used for weapons training. gr.

Eleven of the approximately 40 Hunter F. Mk 4 models were acquired by the Royal Air Force and equipped with lightning hooks. public relationship. The Mk 11 became a single-seat reconnaissance platform for the Royal Navy, while the Hunter Mk 12 was a single production example, a two-seat model built for the Royal Aircraft Company.

Over time, Huntress became less and less able to meet her original Cold War demands. The British "V-bombers" (Avro Vulcan, Handley Page Victor and Vickers Armstrongs Valiant) finally arrived, able to fly higher and farther than the fighter jets themselves, negating the fighter jet's deterrent effect on these large machines.

The fighter-looking Hawker Hunter was completely phased out in 1963, replaced by a newer and more powerful high-speed British Lightning. However, the Hunter lived on through its ground attack form (FGA branded series) until it was inevitably replaced by the Blackburn Pirates himself. By the end of her tenure, the Hunter had fielded 1,000 fighter jets in at least 19 air forces around the world, ready to deploy at any time during peak deployment periods.

Although the aircraft still bears the Hawke name, it was also manufactured under license from the countries of the Netherlands (Fokker) and Belgium (Avions Fairey).

In addition to their respectable Cold War exploits, fighter jets have demonstrated their effectiveness in full-scale combat missions performed by foreign operators in their respective foreign conflicts. Hawker Hunters were used by the Indian Air Force during the Indo-Pakistani War in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

As a ground attack aircraft, the Hunter proved its worth to Pakistani targets, while still showing some air-to-air capability in shooting down Pakistani Lockheed F-104 Starfighters and several North American F-86 Sabres. Likewise, Jordanian fighters successfully struck Israeli ground targets in the Six-Day War.

Ultimately, Hawker Hunter is another step in a series of successful Hawker products spanning the pre-World War II and post-Cold War eras. Like most other seminal achievements, Hunter overcame her early shortcomings to become one of the finest transonic fighters of her era, while leaving a legacy of respect and admiration.

Huntresses served in many roles during her service in the British Army and later in many other countries. To its credit, the faithful designs have been a long-standing member of many Air Forces around the world, with many operators choosing to simply upgrade rather than replace them entirely.

That is the legacy of hawker hunters.

Specification

Basic

Year:

1956

Status:

Retired, out of service

Staff:

Production

[1,972 units]:

Hawker Siddeley UK / Avions Fairey Belgium / Fokker Netherlands

Roles

- Fighter

- Intercept

- Ground Attack

- Education

Dimensions

Length:

45.93 ft (14 m)

Width:

33.46 ft (10.2 m)

Height:

13.16 ft (4.01 m)

Weight

Curb Weight:

12,776 lb (5,795 kg)

MTOW:

8,062 kg

(difference: +4,998 pt)

Performance

1 Rolls-Royce Avon Series 203 turbojet with 10,000 lb thrust.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

715 mph (1,150 km/h; 621 knots)

Service Limit:

51,532 ft (15,707 m; 9.76 mi)

Maximum range:

1,839 miles (2,960 km; 1,598 nautical miles)

Rate of climb:

6,000 ft/min (1,829 m/min)

Armor

Default:

4 x 30mm ADEN guns in the bottom gun pack.

Optional:

4 Matra rocket pods, each containing 18 SNEB 68mm rockets.

24 x Hispano SURA R80 80mm rockets.

4 x AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles.

4 x AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles.

External fuel tank.

Conventional drop bombs up to 7,400 lbs.

Changes

p. 1067 - Model Names

p. 1101 - Prototype name for a two-seater trainer.

F. Mk 1 - Pre-production model/first production model; equipped with Rolls-Royce Avon 113 series turbojet; 139 pieces produced.

F. Mk 2 - Equipped with Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire Mk 101 turbojet; 45 produced.

F. Mk 3 - Prototype with afterburner Avon RA.

7R turbojet with 9,600 lbf thrust; added air brakes on the sides of the fuselage; redesigned nose area and windshield; set multiple airspeed world records at the time.

F. Mk 4 - increased fuel capacity through additional fuel wing bladders; provisions for underwing weapons and fuel tanks; added air bubbles under the hull to deflect spent cannon pods; equipped with Avon Mk 115/21 series turbojets; 349 pieces were produced.

F. Mk 5 - Similar to the F. Mk 4 model, but with the Sapphire Series Mk 101 turbojet; 105 produced.

F. Mk 6 - Sunny Interceptor designation; single seater; equipped with updated Avon Mk 200 series turbojets, including Mk 203 and Mk 207 brands; increased fuel capacity; underwing weapons with four hardpoints; Modified wing leading edge ("dogtooth" design); fully movable tail; 384 copies made.

F. Mk 6A - FGA-like reinforced wing. Ground attack model Mk 9.

T. Mk 7 - Two RAF trainers; seats side by side.

T. Mk 7A - Based on the T. Mk 7 model, but with Integrated Flight Instrument System (IFIS); Blackburn Pirates trainer.

T. Mk 8 Royal Navy two-seater trainer; based on the T. Mk 7, but equipped with a brake hook.

T. Mk 8B - with IFIS and TACAN; no cannon; Blackburn Pirates trainer.

T. Mk 8C - Based on the T. Mk 8 model with the TACAN system installed.

T. Mk 8M - Equipped with Blue Fox radar system; Sea Harrier trainer.

FGA. Mk 9 - single seat RAF ground attack model; converted from F. Mk 6 model; Avon Mk 207 engine.

FR. Mk 10 - FGA-based single-seat tactical reconnaissance variant. Mk 9 model, but modified from F. Mk 6 model; Royal Air Force operation.

GA. Mk 11 Royal Navy single-seat ground attack weapons trainer; similar to FR. Mk 10 model, but modified from F. Mk 4 model.

Genetic resources. Mk11-GA. Mk 11 conversion model with Harley lights and snap hooks; 40 converts this way.

PR. Mk 11 - Royal Navy single seat reconnaissance model; equipped with camera.

F. Mk 12 - Single production example, a two-seater testbed for Royal Aircraft.

F. Mk 50 - Swedish export model designation for the F. Mk 4 fighter; 120 copies made.

J34 - Swedish designation of the Hunter F. Mk 50 (F. Mk 4) export model.

F. Mk 51 - Danish export model designation for the F. Mk 4 fighter; 30 copies made.

F. Mk 52 - Peruvian export model designation for the F. Mk 4 fighter; 16 copies made.

T. Mk 53 - Danish export model designation for the T. Mk 7 trainer; two examples were made.

F. Mk 56 - Indian export model designation of the F. Mk 6 fighter; 160 produced.

FGA. Mk 56A - FGA's Indian export model designation. Mk 9 ground attack fighter.

FGA. Mk 57 - Kuwait export model designation for FGA. Mk 9 ground attack fighter.

F. Mk 58 - Swiss export model designation of the F. Mk 6 fighter.

F. Mk 58A - Swiss export model designation for FGA. Mk 9 ground attack fighter.

FGA. Mk 59 - FGA Iraqi export model designation. 9 ground attack fighters.

FGA. Mk 59A - Iraqi export model Successor to FGA designation. 9 ground attack fighters.

FGA. Mk 59B - Iraqi export model Successor to FGA designation. 9 ground attack fighters.

T. Mk 60 - Saudi export model designation of the F. Mk 6 fighter jet.

T. Mk 62 - The name of the trainer of the Peruvian export model T. Mk 7.

T. Mk 66 - Indian export model designation two-seater Hunter trainer; equipped with Rolls-Royce Avon 200 turbojet.

T. Mk 66A - T. Mk 7 promo model.

T. Mk 66B - Jordanian export model designation for the T 66 trainer aircraft.

T. Mk 66C - Designation of the Lebanese export model T 66 trainer.

T. Mk 66D - successor to the Indian export model designation of the two-seat trainer; 12 examples.

T. Mk 66E - Indian export model designated successor two-seater trainer; 5 examples.

T. Mk 67 - Kuwait export model designation of the T. Mk 66 trainer.

T. Mk 68 - The name of the trainer of the Swiss export model T. Mk 66.

T. Mk 69 - Iraqi export model designation of the T. Mk 66 trainer.

FGA. Mk 70 - FGA's Lebanese export model designation. Mk 9 ground attack fighter.

FGA. Mk 70A - The Lebanese export model designation of the successor FGA. Mk 9 ground attack fighter.

T. Mk 70 - Saudi export model designation of the T. Mk 7 trainer supplied by the RAF; 2 examples.

FGA. Mk 71 - FGA's Chilean export model designation. Ground attack fighter Mk 9.

FR. Mk 71A - Chilean export model FR. Scout Mk 10.

FR. T 72 - Designation for the trainer of the Chilean export model T. Mk 66.

FGA. Mk 73 - Jordan export model designation for FGA. Ground attack aircraft Mk 9.

FGA. Mk 73A - Jordanian export model designation for the successor to the FGA. Ground attack aircraft Mk 9.

FGA. Mk 73B - Jordanian export model designation for the successor to the FGA. Ground attack aircraft Mk 9.

FGA. Mk 74 - FGA's Singapore export model designation. Ground attack aircraft Mk 9.

FR. Mk 74B - Singapore export model designation for subsequent FGA. Mk 9 ground attack aircraft; eight examples.

T. Mk 75 - Singapore export model designation of the T. Mk 66 trainer.

T. Mk 75A - Singapore export model designated successor trainer.

FGA. Mk 76 - FGA's Abi Dhabi export model designation. Ground attack aircraft Mk 9.

Hawker Hunter

History of Hawker Hunters