Thunder & Lightnings - Hawker Hunter - Survivor 'N-294' (really G-KAXF, ex XF515)

Hawker Hunter
Survivor 'N-294' (really G-KAXF, ex XF515)
Dutch Hawker Hunter Foundation (flyer), Exeter, Devon

F.6A XF515 made its first post-restoration flight with owners Kennet Aviation in August 1998 and after some initial problems with the fuel pump, made its public debut less than a week later at the Cranfield Classic Jets airshow, where Rod Dean put on his customary stunning display, reacquainting himself with an aircraft he had previously flown in the RAF. XF515 looked absolutely beautiful and was a credit to her restorers; she was painted in the colours of 43 Squadron, who operated this particular aircraft from 1957 to 1964. Unfortunately when returning from the 1999 RIAT at RAF Fairford, the port main gear failed to extend fully. Electing to land at Luton rather than its home base at Cranfield, the pilot (Rod Dean) made a skillful landing holding the port wing up as long as possible and damage was mostly limited to the port drop tank and aileron. The damage was quickly repaired and XF515 was soon as good as new. Unfortunately after just a few years on the circuit, XF515 appears to have been grounded since late 2004 and was sold to a new foreign owner in late 2007. She was flown to Exeter in September 2007 for some work by Hunter Flying Ltd. and has had Dutch colours applied to her - 'N-294' - and is expected to depart for Leeuwarden in Holland during late October/early November 2008.

Information on this page current as of 24/10/2008

Find other photos of N-294 on the following sites:

Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - IrishAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net

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G.M.J.van Aalst from Breda	Posted at 11:17am on Thursday, October 1st, 2009
The first aircraft crossing the sound barrier in The Netherlands