Hawker Hunter - Restoration to flight
Hawker Hunter - Restoration to flight
Author
Discussion

swampy442

Original Poster:

1,866 posts

237 months

Monday 19th May 2025
quotequote all
Over the rest of the year (probably into next......) Im going to be restoring a Hunter to flying, operational condition. Yes me, on my own. Well maybe with help from a lot of other people. Would people he interested in a thread? Like a readers cars but for planes.

The thread will be within the realms of my companies social media policy, so no locations, no sensitive equipment or roles should there be any, and if you do know any of the above info please don't post it or the thread will vanish.
Topics covered will include a partial engine rebuild, avionics work, hydraulic components, flying controls etc

Just an overview into what goes into restoring and running a 60 year old jet.

The crate in question



Edited by swampy442 on Monday 19th May 03:50

ShortBeardy

929 posts

170 months

Monday 19th May 2025
quotequote all
Yea Swampy!

simonrockman

7,100 posts

281 months

Monday 19th May 2025
quotequote all
Excellent

Terry Tibbs

288 posts

75 months

Monday 19th May 2025
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Yes of course!

Eric Mc

125,126 posts

291 months

Monday 19th May 2025
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My only experience of assembling Hunters relates to 1/72 versions.

Good luck with this project. The environment on flying historic jets in the UK is not great at the moment.

ettore

5,018 posts

278 months

Monday 19th May 2025
quotequote all
Yes please - would be fascinated!

Austin Prefect

2,252 posts

18 months

Monday 19th May 2025
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Presumably this is for use on military contracts?

ettore

5,018 posts

278 months

Monday 19th May 2025
quotequote all
Yes please - would be fascinated!

Marshall878

137 posts

20 months

Monday 19th May 2025
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Instantly added to watchlist!

Jake899

573 posts

70 months

Monday 19th May 2025
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Sydney Camms finest work, and in my opinion the most beautiful jet powered aircraft ever made.

Totally in for this!

What mark is she? and I'd love some info on her history.
I fondly remember the display team flying these out of Exeter and can even vaguely remember FRADU hunters flying out of Yeovilton, including the two seater with the FRS1 harrier nose, which might just be my favourite Hunter.

Thanks for posting, what a wonderful project!

Stick Legs

8,701 posts

191 months

Monday 19th May 2025
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That's deliciously insane.

FourWheelDrift

92,074 posts

310 months

Monday 19th May 2025
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Ex-Singapore Air Force F.74/FR.74 from Australia?

Austin Prefect

2,252 posts

18 months

Monday 19th May 2025
quotequote all
I remember reading an article about the Hunter in around 1980 which said that 'if a couple of hundred more had been made, or simply not scrapped, they would find ready buyers today'. At the time I thought this was far fetched since the Hunter was already obsolete, but it looks like the writer had a point, and might not be far off even forty five years later.

A 'continuation' Hunter would (presumably) be totally out of the question, but it's fun to speculate.

Edited by Austin Prefect on Monday 19th May 10:02

johnymac

427 posts

197 months

Monday 19th May 2025
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Count me in!

zsdom

1,773 posts

146 months

Monday 19th May 2025
quotequote all
Absolutely in for this

Would also be interesting to have a thread of your dealings with the CAA, from my (very limited) understanding the goal posts are constantly moving with fast jet restoration & as soon as one hurdle is overcome another is thrown in hence the North Weald (now St Athan) single seat Gnat still hasnt flown and work on Historic Aero Engineerings Hunter is slow

aeropilot

40,085 posts

253 months

Monday 19th May 2025
quotequote all
swampy442 said:
Over the rest of the year (probably into next......) Im going to be restoring a Hunter to flying, operational condition. Yes me, on my own. Well maybe with help from a lot of other people. Would people he interested in a thread?
Too bloody right we would.

One of Sir Sydney's finest.


Stick Legs

8,701 posts

191 months

Monday 19th May 2025
quotequote all
I bet it's finished before Binky!

Tony1963

5,808 posts

188 months

Monday 19th May 2025
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Hopefully the rules on flying privately owned Hunters are more sensible in the Antipodes!

All the best with it, hope the damage caused by the wheels-up landing doesn’t cause any unforeseen challenges.

JoshSm

4,140 posts

63 months

Monday 19th May 2025
quotequote all
If it's anything like other similar aircraft of similar age this could end up fun.

Hopefully it was well stored so not too knackered?

Big issue always seems to be these things end up with unobtainable critical components that you can't cover with NOS because it's all expired, and the technology & manufacturing was sufficiently complex that you're well into the realms of needing OEM level support if that's even available.

Tony1963

5,808 posts

188 months

Monday 19th May 2025
quotequote all
JoshSm said:
If it's anything like other similar aircraft of similar age this could end up fun.

Hopefully it was well stored so not too knackered?

Big issue always seems to be these things end up with unobtainable critical components that you can't cover with NOS because it's all expired, and the technology & manufacturing was sufficiently complex that you're well into the realms of needing OEM level support if that's even available.
Plenty of Hunters around the world are flying. There’ll be a network of advice and help.