Hawker Hunter: Encyclopedia II - Hawker Hunter - Development

Hawker Hunter - Development

The Hunter was developed in response to an Air Ministry specification issued in 1948. The P.1067 first flew on 17 July 1951, entering service as the Hunter F.1 in 1954. Extensive teething problems led to a succession of variants, leading to the definitive F.6' with a much more powerful Rolls-Royce Avon engine and revised wing. The F.6 and the subsequent FGA.9 fighter bomber were the basis for most exports.

The Hunter had a swept wing with a 35° sweep, a single turbojet engine with intakes in the wing roots, and a high-mounted tailplane. It was armed with four 30mm ADEN cannon in a detachable pack in the nose, with underwing fittings for bombs and rockets. Later variants had improved wing design and more powerful engines. A trainer version with side-by-side seating for instructor and pupil was also produced. The Hunter is prized for its superior handling ability, and in mature versions is a versatile, robust, and extremely reliable aircraft.

The Hunter F.6 was retired from the fighter role in the RAF in 1963, with ground-attack versions serving through 1970. Some remained in use for training and secondary roles through the early 1990s.

Hunter users included Abu Dhabi, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Iraq, India, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Netherlands, Oman, Peru, Qatar, Rhodesia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Sweden, and Switzerland. Belgium and Netherlands produced the Hunter under license.

Perhaps the most enthusiastic Hunter user was Switzerland, which used the type from 1958 through 1994, upgrading it repeatedly in service and often choosing to retain it in lieu of newer aircraft.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Development", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki