Hawker Hunter Mk6/9: XE601 (G-ETPS)

Manufactured as a Hunter F6 and first flown on the 2nd May 1956 from the Hawker Aircraft Company's airfield at Dunsfold in Surrey by Hawker test pilot Frank Bullen. XE601 never entered service, but was retained by Hawker and used as a Certification and trials aircraft.

XE601 was progressively modified by Hawkers through to the interim Hunter F6A variant, and then to full FGA9 standard but never certified as such. It was airtested after the modifications at Dunsfold on the 23rd April 1965 and remained in Hawkers test fleet until joining the A&AEE fleet at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire on the 11th February 1966.

XE601 was utilised by the Fast Jet Test Squadron based at Boscombe Down, where one of its more interesting roles was to simulate attacks by aircraft carrying nuclear, biological and chemical agents on ground troops, by spraying water out of the back of a pair of modified 230 gallon underwing tanks.

With a major service due in 2000, XE601 flew her last mission on the 15th July 1999 and was retired and stored under the care of the Boscombe Down Museum.

2004 saw XE601 put out to tender and initially purchased by Canadian based Northern Lights Group to add to their growing Hunter fleet. The aircraft was dismantled and moved to the Hunter Flying Club hangar at Exeter Airport, Devon and the rebuild started for her certification and flight on to Canada.

During this time Andy Foan saw the aircraft in the hangar at Exeter and expressed an interest in acquiring her. His negotiations bore fruit and in May 2005 XE601 obtained the civilian registration G-ETPS and a new owner.

2010 and a change of ownership with Gerald Williams taking over the custodianship of XE601, with her then becoming part of Team Viper, which were then converting from a quartet of BAC Strikemasters to a Hunter five ship display team, details at http://www.teamviperdisplay.com

XE601 is the only FGA9 still in airworthy condition and capable of the haunting "Hunter Blue Note"

Hawker Hunter FGA9 Technical Data:
Engine: One Rolls Royce Avon 207
Thrust: 10,150 lbs
Wingspan: 33 ft 10 in
Length: 45 ft 10 in
Empty Weight: 17,750 lbs
Max Take Off Weight: 21,900 lbs
Max Speed: Mach 0.936 at 35,000 ft
Ceiling: 40,000 ft
Range: 590 nm
Internal armament: 4 x 30mm ADEN cannon
Starter system: Avpin