T.7A WV318 at Kemble, 1st May 2005; author	T.7A XL568 at Cosford, 17th May 2007; author

Delta Jets operate WV318 in Black Arrows colours on the display circuit, usually flown by Rod Dean. WV318 was used for Buccaneer crew training and her cockpit is very different from other twin-tub Hunters; she also lacks a gun but retains the cannon fairing, and has an arrestor hook. Unlike other early Hunter variants, WV318 no longer has a cartridge starter system and uses an electrical starter - so bad news for spectators as there is no loud and smoky startup, but good news for the operators who don't have to put up with the expensive, dangerous and dirty task of using explosive cartridges! She's seen here arriving at Abingdon for the annual Fayre air & country show. Information current as of 24/05/2005.

XL568 was first flown, as a T.7, in 1958. She was delivered to 74 Squadron and later converted to a T.7A. Continuing to serve with 74, she also passed through the hands of 237 OCU before ending her active duty days with 208 and later 12 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth, where she was painted in Black Arrows colours in her final years of flying. She was retired to ground instructional duties at RAF Cranwell and in early February 2002 was acquired by the RAF Museum for display at Cosford. Losing her black scheme and being repainted in early training colours, she is now on display in a dramatic pose inside the Cold War Exhibition. Information current as of 17/05/2007.

T.8B XF995 at Kemble, 17th March 2002; author	T.8C N-321 at Kemble, 22nd July 2001; author

XF995 was built as a Hunter F4 at Blackpool (the 51st F4 of the sixth production batch of 57 aircraft). was first flown July 1956 and delivered to the RAF at No. 33 MU, RAF Lyneham on 20th July 1956. Operated by No 247 Squadron and No 229 OCU, she was returned to Hawker Siddeley Aviation in 1963 and converted to a T.8B (one of three) for the Royal Navy. She was later transferred to the RAF and flown by No. 237 OCU for Buccaneer pilot training, and ended her military career as an instructional airframe at RAF Cranwell. Sold in November 2000 to Chris Perkins, Delta Jets got the job of returning her to the air and did so remarkably quickly, flying her to Kemble in February 2001. She has been in storage there ever since and will shortly be moving to Exeter. Information current as of 01/08/2006.

XF357 was being restored to airworthiness by Jet Heritage, but with the end of JH, it was sold to a new owner and is now under the care of the Old Flying Machine Company. The Classic Jet Aircraft Company completed the restoration on the OFMC's behalf and the OFMC then had her repainted her as XJ615, the T.7 prototype. XF357 has had her nose-mounted Harley light removed and but retains her arrestor hook for safety reasons, and is now based at Scampton with the rest of the OFMC Hunter fleet. Her first public display was at Kemble, for the Delta Jets At Home Day in August 2000. She's pictured here taking off to take part in the 15-ship formation flypast at the Hawker Hunter 50th Anniversary Air Day at Kemble, and as you can see the paint job had been changed slightly to give her a Breitling logo and associated yellow nose. She moved on to a new owner - Elvington Events - for some time but in early 2007 was acquired by Stichting Hawker Hunter Foundation, based in Holland, and has gained full Dutch markings. She left for Leeuwarden - her new home - in mid-May 2007, but will hopefully visit the UK regularly. Information current as of 01/09/2007.

T.8C WT799 at North Weald, 8th April 2000; author	T.8C WV322 at Baginton, 30th May 2003; author

T.8C WT799 now looking a little less like a basket case with progress visible since the last picture displayed here - the spine is now back on for instance. WT799 is undergoing restoration after which it will fly. Originally bought as an F.4, it served in RAF Germany and was later converted to a T.8C for service with the RN and FRADU. Since the Jet Centre at North Weald began her restoration, she's moved on to CJAC (now HFC) at Exeter who may be farming her out to a museum for static display.

WV322 was built as an F.4 and first flown on 8th June 1955. Delivered to the RAF 20 days later, she was operated by 43 and 92 Squadrons and then in 1959 was returned to Hawkers for conversion to a T.8C. She was delivered to the Royal Navy and operated by 764 NAS and later 809 NAS for Buccaneer pilot training. With the Buccaneer's retirement from FAA service, WV322 was transferred to the RAF and flown by 237 OCU, again for Buccaneer pilot training. On retirement she ended up as an instructional airframe at RAF Cranwell before being put up for disposal in early 2001. Christopher Perkins purchased her and after a week and half of intensive work at Cranwell by engineers from Kemble-based Delta Jets, WV322 flew on a ferry permit on 14th February, landing at Kemble where she underwent work to return her to full permit to fly status. WV322's first post-restoration flight was on 13th March 2002. She's seen here practicing for the Coventry Classic Airshow 2003. Information current as of 01/08/2006.

T.8C WV396 at RAF Valley, 18th August 2001; author	T.8C XF358 at Boscombe Down, summer 1998; Glen Moreman

RAF Valley is guarded by this Hunter-on-a-stick, replacing the Gnat that was there for some years. WV396 served with 20 Squadron, 229 OCU and latterly FRADU before being put out to grass here at Valley. The sea air is doing her no favours, with rust streaks evident here and there, but she looks to have been pretty well weather proofed so should last for a while yet!

Built as an F.4 in 1956, XF358 served with 112 Squadron at RAF Bruggen for just two years before being returned to Hawkers and converted to a T.8 for the Fleet Air Arm. She then served with 700Z NAS, RNAHU, 759 NAS, ADTU and later FRADU, becoming one of the last of the Unit's Hunters to fly. Paperwork problems meant she could not be tendered for sale along with most of the other ex-FRADU Hunters and she ended up at Boscombe Down as a ground instructional airframe. In 2004 she finally came up for disposal, and has been bought by Gary Montgomery to use as a spares ship for his other Hunter XX467. The cockpit section has been acquired by Northern Lights in Canada who want to use it to convert one of their F.58s into a two-seater. Information current as of 01/08/2006.

T.8C ZU-ATH at Cape Town, summer 1999; Louis Vosloo	T.8M XL580 at Yeovilton, 9th June 2001; author

XL598 in common with several other Hunters has left the cold and wet UK for brighter climes - South Africa. A regular airshow performer, she's in Mike Beachyhead's house colours of overall black.

XL580 was acquired by the FAA Museum on retirement and placed in storage for some time, but is now on display within the Museum's Leading Edge exhibition hall - she makes a nice link between the Sea Harrier on display there and the research aircraft scattered around the hall.