F.6A XE653 at Cape Town, 1996; David Hill/Classic Jets	F.6A XF382 at Baginton, December 2006; Malcolm Lambert/Midland Air Museum

Definitely not hangar-bound is XE653, one of Mike Beachyhead's aircraft in Cape Town, South Africa. Airworthy, flown regularly and available for those with the money to take a flight in!

F.6A XF382 at the Midland Air Museum may look rather faded, but as museum-housed Hunters go, this one is rather unusual. Many of her electrical functions are in working order thanks to museum volunteer Peter Buckingham who worked on her while in RAF service. The museum also sells an info-pack on the aircraft, and a weapons exhibition is put on and the cockpit is opened and powered up for visitors to sit in; children who experience the powered-up cockpit get a certificate to prove it! Like Duxford's XF375, this F.6A has an unusual nose - the starboard side has a camera fitting, apparently because a small number of Hunters were used in anti-drug-smuggling operations in support of Welsh police! As you can see XF382 is looking pretty good - due to a repaint in 2006. Information current as of 01/09/2007.

F.6A XF418 at Hermeskeil, 1995; Paul Nann	F.6A XF515 at Kemble, 22nd July 2001; author

Built by Armstrong Whitworth at Baginton, XF418 served with the DFLS, 229 OCU and the TWU and retired to RAF Laarbruch for BDRT duties in 1984. 92 Squadron, then at RAF Wildenrath, soon got hold of the aircraft and moved it to their base for display in Blue Diamonds colours. On the closure of Wildenrath the aircraft was bought by the museum at Hermeskeil and has been on display there ever since.

F.6A XF515 made its first post-restoration flight in August 1998 and after some initial problems with the fuel pump, made its public debut less than a week later at the Cranfield Classic Jets airshow, where Rod Dean put on his customary stunning display, reacquainting himself with an aircraft he had previously flown in the RAF. XF515 looks absolutely beautiful and is a credit to her restorers; she's painted in the colours of 43 Squadron, who operated this particular aircraft from 1957 to 1964. Unfortunately when returning from the 1999 RIAT at RAF Fairford, the port main gear failed to extend fully. Electing to land at Luton rather than its home base at Cranfield, the pilot (Rod Dean) made a skillful landing holding the port wing up as long as possible and damage was mostly limited to the port drop tank and aileron. The damage was quickly repaired and XF515 was soon as good as new. She's seen here taking off at Kemble to take part in the record-breaking 15-ship formation at the Hawker Hunter 50th Anniversary Air Day.

F.6A XG152 at Gatow, 12th May 2002; Paul Nann	F.6A XG225 at Cosford, 17th May 2007; author

XG152 finished an 18-month restoration in summer 2000 and thanks to the hard work of a dedicated band of volunteers at the Luftwaffenmuseum, she looks great. The first problem the museum had was lack of appropriate tools - imperial measurements being used on the Hunter, but metric being the standard in Germany. However, appropriate tools were bought with donations and it certainly looks like they did the job. Information current as of 12/05/2002.

Beginning service life as an F.6 with 92 Squadron, XG255 flew with the Blue Diamonds and in 1962 was converted to an F.6A (interim FGA.9). As 92 Squadron began accepting their new Lightnings in 1963, XG225 moved onto 229 OCU and later the TWU. In April 1980, XG225 was transferred to 237 OCU to keep Buccaneer pilots current (Buccaneers being grounded at the time because of fatigue problems). By 1981 the aircraft was retired and went to Cosford to become an instructional airframe, finally being restored and placed on display in 1988. Sadly it by 2003 it was no longer considered to be representative of Cosford's remit in training people for the modern RAF and was replaced... by a replica Spitfire! Well that makes sense then. Anyway the good news is the Hunter has been moved across to the museum and is now on public view at the main entrance. Information current as of 17/05/2007.

F.6A XK149 at Tulsa, 24th August 2000; Bob Guilford	T.7 800 at RAF Fairford, displaying at IAT 96; Nick Challoner

Yet another F.6A, and in pretty good condition with only a few minor panels missing, is XK149, pictured at its new home in the USA. Previously on display at Bruntingthorpe, she's currently being reassembled at Jet Restorations Limited after transport to the US. Aero Group intend to fly the aircraft at some point in the future.

T.7 800 of the Royal Jordanian Air Force Historic Flight displayed for some time in the UK but has now sadly gone to Jordan - which was predictable but still a loss to the UK airshow scene. She's seen here at the 1996 International Air Tattoo.

T.7 G-HPUX at IWM Duxford, 3rd June 2000; author	T.7 G-VETA at Kemble, 22nd July 2001; author

The OFMC had begun a rebuild to flying condition at Duxford and hoped to have G-HPUX back in the air in 2000 but plans changed and she's since been roaded to Scampton where the rebuild will be completed. After that with Duxford's short runway and the T.7's relative lack of power it's likely to stay based at Scampton along with the rest of the OFMC/HHA's Hunter fleet.

Another airworthy Hunter that doesn't display as much as it used to, G-VETA was based at Bournemouth Airport for some time and after a spectacular outing at Fighter Meet 96, in company with the sadly lost G-HHUN, she hasn't been seen at many public displays, though she did display at Bovingdon Tank Museum in 1998 in company with G-BXFI. Since sold to Gordon Hannam (who was happy that the serial could stand for Gordon's Very Expensive Toy Aeroplane!) it was then based at Kemble with Delta Jets until 2004, when she was acquired by Gower Jets and flown out of North Weald and Cranwell, she was sold once again in 2005 to Skyblue who now operate her out of Exeter. Information current as of 01/08/2006.