T.7 N-315 at Long Marston, June 1998; author	T.7 N576NL at Williams-Gateway Airport, November 17th 1999; Tracy Hayes/Arizona Republic

One of three Hunters to be found at Long Marston is this ex-Dutch twin-tub Hunter. As you can see from this rather old photo, back in 1998 she looked in pretty poor condition and the paintwork is a mess. Internally she was doing rather better; however nearly a decade later and the JAPG appear to have given up, with the airframes abandoned in their compound and getting into progressively poorer condition. A sad end to a promising collection.

Unfortunately an update on XL576's ownership coincides with the aircraft's crash landing. Taking off for a trip to California, the former XL576 suffered a possible compressor stall on take-off, and produced a 30-foot streak of flame from the engine. The pilot immediately attempted to get it back down on the runway but with very little runway remaining the aircraft overran the runway end and then met a ditch resulting in serious damage, and serious injury to the pilot. A passenger had less serious injuries, and the canopy was cut through to get to them.

T.7 WV372 at Kemble, 15th June 2003; author	T.7 WV383 at Farnborough, 22nd March 2003; Tom McGhee

WV372 was one of Jet Heritage's airworthy Hunters and carried out one of its first public displays at the Tank Museum at Bovingdon in 1998, in company with G-VETA, to much appreciation from the audience. The paint scheme is rather attractive I think (but then I have a soft spot for the 1970s/early 1980s RAF schemes), and very different from that on G-VETA! Since then the aircraft has moved on, and is now owned by the Fox One consortium and based at Kemble. She's pictured here taking part in the 2003 Classic Jets show. Information current as of 01/09/2007.

Spending much of its career with the Empire Test Pilot's School, WV383 was retired to ground instructional use at Boscombe Down, but more recently was loaned to the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, who have now reassembled her for static display at Farnborough. She's seen here in her new home - sadly from outside on the road she's just about impossible to photograph! Information current as of 22/03/2003.

T.7 XL563 at Kempston, 26th March 1999; author	T.7 XL565 at Bruntingthorpe, 27th November 2004; author

On display for some years outside the Officer's Mess at Farnborough, in late March 1999 XL563 was dismantled and travelled to Kempston (on the edge of Bedford). She's pictured here on the low-loader used for transport, awaiting reassembly. XL563 was to be returned to flying trim but little has been heard about any progress since 1999.

This is XL565, which has a rather mixed personality in that it contains sections from WT745 and XL591. While in cosmetically poor condition it's a possibility for restoration to airworthiness and in 2002 was sold by Aeromech, moving from Kemble to Bruntingthorpe. Currently lacking an engine, one is apparently on the way, so she may be at least taxiing again in the future. Geoffrey's first piece of action on the restoration was ordering 1,000 stainless steel bolts! Information current as of 27/11/2004.

T.7 XL569 at East Midlands, 20th May 2006; author	T.7 XL571 at Elvington, October 16th 1999; author

XL569 is an ex-RAF trainer that, in common with the East Midlands Aeropark's other exhibits, is in generally good condition, sat on concrete blocks and generally with all vents etc. blanked off appropriately. She was looking very faded when I visited in 1999 but a re-visit in 2006 found her in the middle of a repaint - she's lost her all-over wrap-around camo and is being put back in an earlier scheme by the looks of things. Information current as of 20/05/2006.

Looking very nice at the Yorkshire Air Museum is XL572, a Hunter with an unfortunate past. When in use with 229 OCU in 1959 the aircraft entered an inverted spin. With recovery from this being a tricky proposition, the student pilot ejected but was sadly killed. However the instructor pilot managed to regain control and landed safely. When preserved at Elvington the aircraft was looking rather faded until it was transported to RAF Linton-on-Ouse in 1999 to be repainted, and emerged in Blue Diamonds colours, masquerading as XL571.

T.7 XL573 at Yeovilton, 21st September 2002; author	T.7 XL577 at height over Gloucestershire, 19th December 2004; author

T.7 XL573 was owned and operated by Barry Pover's Classic Jet Aircraft Co. and was a regular airshow performer some years ago, however she doesn't venture out anywhere near as often now. She's spent time at North Weald being maintained by The Jet Centre for a new owner but has since returned to Exeter, first owned by David Hayes and now by George Begg of Global Aviation. She's seen here, sadly static, at the 2002 Yeovilton Air Day. Information current as of 01/08/2006.

Back to Delta Jets at Kemble for two more of their Hunters. XL577 has been restored over 5 years or so and has recently been flown for the first time in many years. See the help wanted page if you have any piccies of XL577 in service - Delta would like to see them! She's pictured her on her second sortie after repaint in Blue Diamonds colours (representing XL571, though retaining her own serial number), and has been a popular airshow performer ever since. Information current as of 01/09/2007.