Thunder & Lightnings

Hawker Hunter - Survivor XE597

FGA.9 XE597 - Wolverhampton Aviation Society, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire

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Hunter FGA.9 XE597 at RAF Waddington, 7th July 2013; Richard E Flagg

XE597 was originally built as an F.6 and served as such with 66, 63 and 56 Squadrons. After conversion to FGA.9 standard it returned to service with 208 Squadron in Kenya and later served as a trials aircraft with the Ministry of Aviation. Moving onto 54 Squadron and then 1 Squadron, she ended her service life with 229 OCU at Chivenor and later the TWU at Brawdy. Finally retired in 1985, XE597 became the gate guard at RAF Bentley Priory until replaced by a Lightning. After that she went to RAF Halton for instructional use. At some point she was scrapped and the nose section moved to the FETC at Moreton-in-Marsh where it resided in one of the classrooms - in excellent condition - for several years before being discovered by Bob Dunn and Mick Boulanger of the Wolverhampton Aviation Society. They made an offer and bought her not long afterwards!
The XE597 is in great condition and is well looked after!

Information on this page current as of 17/06/2021, last updated by Jake

Find other photos of XE597 on the following sites:

Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net