| HAWKER HUNTER |
History
The versatile Hawker Hunter jet was originally designed as a superior air fighter, which, due to its versatility, was easily adapted for air-to-ground attack and reconnaissance roles. It was the first swept wing, indigenous British built fighter, with the first prototypes taking to the air in 1951 - and it held the world speed record for a brief period in 1953.
With its clean lines, brilliant handling and excellent load carrying capacity, the classic Hunter was possibly the best transonic jet fighter and ground-support aircraft of its kind - and it was built in greater numbers than any other British aircraft of the post-war era.
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The Hunter formed the backbone of the Royal Air Force’s jet fighter squadron between 1954 and 1961 and remained in frontline service until the early seventies. It was only finally withdrawn from active service in 1995. Nearly two thousand Hunters of all types were built for various airforces - including those of Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Holland, India, Sweden and Switzerland.
The Swiss ultimately ordered 160 Hunters and operated the class from 1958 until December of 1994 |
Technical info:
| Maximum velocity (level flight) |
Mach 0.97 – supersonic in a shallow dive |
| Maximum Initial rate of climb |
17,000 feet per minute |
| Service ceiling |
52,000 feet |
| Tactical Radius |
713km on a hi-lo-hi mission with two tanks
and typical attack ordinance |
| Weights Max. take-off |
11,300 kg (25,000 lb) |
| Dimensions Wing span |
10.25m |
| Height |
4.02m |
| Wing Area |
34.43 m(2) |
| Range |
2,960 km |
| Crew |
2 | | | |
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