History of the Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is without doubt
one of the world’s all time great
fighters. Designed by the Hawker
team, headed by Sir Sidney Camm, the
aircraft was one of the UK’s first sweptwing
interceptors. The Hunter broke the
world speed record in September 1953
when Neville Duke achieved a speed of
727,63 mph.
Following some early performance
disappointments with the Mk1 Hunter, later
marques were powered by an uprated Rolls
Royce Avon Mk 207 engine with 10,150
lb.st. An innovation that produced the
ultimate classic thoroughbred interceptor/
ground attack aircraft of its day. At the time the Hunter was the only swept wing aircraft in the
world which could be subjected to a deliberate spin and recover with no problems.
The Hunter T7 is a two seat side-by-side trainer based on the Hunter Mk.4 airframe with an
entirely re-designed forward fuselage to accommodate the pupil and instructor. The aircraft is
fully operational with a single cannon mounted on the starboard side and a brake parachute.
The Hunter also packed an impressive punch with its highly concentrated battery of four cannon
and the air combat capability was greatly enhanced with the addition of AIM-9 Sidewinders in
Swiss, Singapore, Omani and Chilean service.
In addition to the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, Hunters served with some 20 airforces
world-wide; In total some 1,970 aircraft of all types were built.
