Jet roar ends a four year silence

The Hawker Hunter announced its readiness for the Tauranga City Airshow today when it roared into life at Tauranga Airport before making a few circuits over the central city.

It was the 1950s era jet fighter's first flight in about four years and it began with a tow from the Classic Flyers hangar to the refuelling point outside the Tauranga Airport terminal.


See video below of the Hawker Hunter's start-up and take-off.

There, its tanks were topped up and final checks made before the turbine was run up.

The Hawker Hunter is started with compressed air, which spins the turbine until the fuel can be ignited.

Airplane enthusiasts gathered on a freshly erected grandstand to watch the jet make its take-off run.

Dave, the owner and pilot, said before take-off that he intended flying out over the sea and putting the aircraft through a routine to ensure everything was working properly.

'It would have been nice to get it airborne a bit earlier and do some more flying prior to the airshow,” says Dave.

Dave, flight engineer Jim Lawson, and a team of Classic Flyers volunteers, have been working for months to restore the aircraft to flying condition.

'Jim's restored it, refurbished it and got it flying,” says Dave.

'He's just done an amazing job.”

Dave's Hawker Hunter was built in 1958 and flew with the Singapore Air Force.

The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s.

The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft and later operated in fighter bomber and reconnaissance roles.

Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary roles with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy until the early 1990s.

The Hunter was also widely exported, serving with 21 other air forces; 50 years after its original introduction it is still in active service, operating with the Lebanese Air Force.

Classic Flyers also has a non-flying two-seater version.

Dave's Hawker Hunter appeared at the 2006 airshow in Tauranga.

It flew a few times after that, but has remained in the Classic Flyers hangar for the last four years.

Classic Flyers CEO Andrew Gormlie says the decision to fly the aircraft marked the start of an expensive and uncertain process, but it has worked out well.

'We are now telling people the Hawker Hunter will be operational at the airshow.”

Restoring the Hawker Hunter has been the work of volunteers and a few specialist ex-servicemen who worked on the aircraft when they were more widely operational.

'It's a very specialised item that they deal with,” says Andrew.

'The guys that work on that also work on the one in Australia and further afield.

'That crew, plus the owner and pilot, have been coming backwards and forwards from Ardmore for the last couple of months fairly intensively.”

7 comments

brilliant

Posted on 25-01-2012 18:05 | By tonyb1

Outstanding, at least our air force has a jet it can call on lol


Jet Roar

Posted on 25-01-2012 21:52 | By The author of this comment has been removed.

What a beautiful sight and sound. Full marks to all involved in getting this craft up to the mark for this weekend. Treat her gently - make her last for all my grandchildren to enjoy as well. These planes are worth it. Known for their low maintenance and operating costs - all the result of superb design by Sydney Camm. Safe flying.


A joy

Posted on 26-01-2012 12:47 | By penguin

Brings tears to the eyes and a lift to the spirit. Congratulations to all those who worked so hard to make this happen! Looking forward to seeing it in action on Sunday.


Roar in the Sky

Posted on 26-01-2012 18:49 | By Sandyshirl

What an awesome noise we heard in the sky in Tauranga today. These machines are no doubt well worth viewing at the Airshow, let along just hearing them. They are awesome.


Impressed

Posted on 27-01-2012 07:49 | By The Vale

Totally, everyone running outside to see this aircraft going through its paces. Nice work al


Totally ripped, brilliant.

Posted on 27-01-2012 18:17 | By TheCameltoeKid

I was at work and heard it fly over. I thought what the hell was that. Buy the time I got outside it was gone. It wasn't until soon after I saw it zooming over the city. I had to think, isn't this going to rip the crotch right out of Perry Harlen's kilt. Turn it right up boys!!!!!


The Cameltoe Kiddy

Posted on 02-02-2012 21:32 | By RORTSCAM

Tut tut there's a good chap no need to spoil your moment of ecstasy with humpy throwaway lines - might just be the last time you are in V8 heaven.Remind us how do pilots take it again.


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