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Hawker Hunter and other rare jets in the Mach Loop
Filmed by our friend Dafydd Phillips in May when a large number UK based frontline jets were in the Middle East taking part in the US-Iran War, the cool video in this post features some rare jets making a spectacular visit in the Mach Loop.
According to Phillips, at the time of the footage “situation pickings was very slim in the Mach Loop. Fortunately, we had many training aircraft and occasional private aviation companies that dropped by. In this video two of those special visitors are Hawker Hunter Aviation who sent in a Hawker Hunter T7/T8 for two laps and also L39 Aviation who are based in Blackpool sent in the raspberry ripple Hawk T1 as they used part of the loop transiting through Wales at low level.”
HHA
Hawker Hunter Aviation (HHA) specialises in sourcing legacy platforms, upgrading these on a bespoke basis with modern equipment and subsequently employing them as cost effective Fast Jet Trials Platforms and Air Support training assets to ease the task and budgetary pressure on front line aircraft.
HHA currently operates a 13 strong fleet of fast jet military aircraft covering 4 basic aircraft types. The company’s Hunter T7/T8 is a trainer which evolved from the single seat version of this iconic jet and is broadly identical other than featuring an extended nose and wider cockpit to accommodate the side-by-side twin seat seating arrangement.
The Hunter Trainer aircraft augment HHA’s fleet of single seat variants and can undertake all taskings flown by the single seaters whilst also undertaking aircrew training.
The right-hand seat on these aircraft can be used as a flight test observer station with bespoke trials specific instrumentation being installed to monitor and provide control inputs to various T&E stores that can be carried either externally on the aircraft hardpoints or internally in the nose compartment or radio bay.
L39 Aviation
L39 Aviation are a specialist ex-military jet maintenance centre based in the north west of the UK that is part of a small group of individuals specialising in the restoration and maintenance of former ex-military jets now operated private individuals and enthusiasts.
The company a wealth of experience and background on the maintenance, upgrade, restoration and preservation a wide range of ex-military aircraft. They undertake a variety of work on L39 Albatross, Harrier Jump Jet, Hawker Hunter, Jet Provost, BAE Hawk T1, Pilatus PC9, to name but a few.
Photo credit: Dafydd Phillips
