Hawker Hunter - Survivor XF526
F.6 XF526 - Aircraft Restoration Group, Fishburn Airfield, Durham
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Hunter F.6 XF526 at Birlingham, 25th August 2023; Jake Wallace
Found within the Worcestershire countryside, is a private collection of jets owned by Graham Revill, one being Hunter F.6 XF526.
The airframe first flew in 1956, serving with 43, 56, 63 and 66 Sqn's.
XF526 retired in 1981, becoming a ground instructional airframe with the No.1 SoTT at RAF Halton under the serial 8679M.
Once Halton no longer a use for the aircraft, she was purchased by Graham Revill who relocated XF526 to his farm in Birlingham, Worcestershire, joining his small growing collection.
Sadly, XF526 wasn't in the best of states when she arrived, with several panels missing, no engine, no ejector seat, and a stripped cockpit. However, she's starting to look even worse as the years go by with very little attention. In 2017, there was a glimmer of hope when a small group of individuals created the Birlingham Classic Aircraft Preservation Group, and began to clean the aircraft and their surroundings and seal up canopies. Sadly, this all seemed to fall apart several months later, leaving the collection neglected once more.
A visit in 2023 saw XF526 slowly beginning to blend back into the Worcestershire countryside. Several areas have blown such as below the canopy, with paintwork eroding away resulting in many areas going back to bare metal, as well as a cracked nose leg. There is still enough of the aircraft left to make for a great restoration project, although finding spare nose legs, a seat, as well as instruments, and framework to fill the cockpit would certainly be a challenge. Two external tanks which once hung from the pylons can also be found on site just out of shot in the above image.
In October 2024, it was announced that the small collection owned by Graham would be going up for sale. By November, the collection had all found new homes, with XF526 being acquired by the Aircraft Restoration Group based at Fishburn Airfield in Durham. It's hoped the aircraft will be restored for display, but first of all, the airframe will be treated to a much need wash!
The airframe first flew in 1956, serving with 43, 56, 63 and 66 Sqn's.
XF526 retired in 1981, becoming a ground instructional airframe with the No.1 SoTT at RAF Halton under the serial 8679M.
Once Halton no longer a use for the aircraft, she was purchased by Graham Revill who relocated XF526 to his farm in Birlingham, Worcestershire, joining his small growing collection.
Sadly, XF526 wasn't in the best of states when she arrived, with several panels missing, no engine, no ejector seat, and a stripped cockpit. However, she's starting to look even worse as the years go by with very little attention. In 2017, there was a glimmer of hope when a small group of individuals created the Birlingham Classic Aircraft Preservation Group, and began to clean the aircraft and their surroundings and seal up canopies. Sadly, this all seemed to fall apart several months later, leaving the collection neglected once more.
A visit in 2023 saw XF526 slowly beginning to blend back into the Worcestershire countryside. Several areas have blown such as below the canopy, with paintwork eroding away resulting in many areas going back to bare metal, as well as a cracked nose leg. There is still enough of the aircraft left to make for a great restoration project, although finding spare nose legs, a seat, as well as instruments, and framework to fill the cockpit would certainly be a challenge. Two external tanks which once hung from the pylons can also be found on site just out of shot in the above image.
In October 2024, it was announced that the small collection owned by Graham would be going up for sale. By November, the collection had all found new homes, with XF526 being acquired by the Aircraft Restoration Group based at Fishburn Airfield in Durham. It's hoped the aircraft will be restored for display, but first of all, the airframe will be treated to a much need wash!
Information on this page current as of 12/11/2024, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of XF526 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net