Hawker Hunter - Survivor 'XE620' (really XE606)
F.6A XE620 - North East Land Sea & Air Museum, Sunderland Airport, Tyne & Wear
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Hunter F.6A XE620 at RAF Barkston Heath, late April 2012; Gary Watson
XE606 served with the AFDS, 92 Squadron, 229 OCU, the TWU and was finally issued to RAF Laarbruch as a BDRT airframe.
However, 20 Squadron at Laarbruch (then a Tornado unit that had previously flown Hunters) sought permission to save the aircraft for display and so in 1984 XE606 was given a facelift, becoming XJ673 (the CO of 20 Squadron's personal aircraft in the 1960s) in the process. The real XJ673 had been lost in an accident while flying from Hong Kong to Tengah. With 20's disbandment and reforming as a Harrier unit at Cottesmore, she was moved to Cottesmore and was looked after by 4 Squadron, back in the correct markings as XE606. She was displayed outside one of the hangars and was kept in generally good condition. With the shocking and early end to Harrier operations, RAF Cottesmore closed as a flying station, soon to be disbanded entirely.
This left XE606 looking for another home, and thankfully found one with 8 Squadron at Waddington. During 2012, she briefly moved to Barkston Heath for a repaint, and once that was done moved onwards to RAF Waddington for a formal unveiling on 2nd June 2013 (replacing the Phantom that used to be on display). XE606 is now marked up as XE620, the aircraft Sqn Ldr Tam Syme had as OC 8 Sqn from 1963 to 1965.
With the move of the Red Arrows in 2022 from Scampton to Waddington, XE606 was replaced by a Hawk T.1. Thankfully, she has managed to find a new home at Boulmer, where she will continue her gate-guarding duties, after a change to 20 Squadron colours. However, while the groundworks at Boulmer are being completed, she has stopped off at the North East Land Sea & Air Museum (NELSAM), where she'll be displayed for the time being.
However, 20 Squadron at Laarbruch (then a Tornado unit that had previously flown Hunters) sought permission to save the aircraft for display and so in 1984 XE606 was given a facelift, becoming XJ673 (the CO of 20 Squadron's personal aircraft in the 1960s) in the process. The real XJ673 had been lost in an accident while flying from Hong Kong to Tengah. With 20's disbandment and reforming as a Harrier unit at Cottesmore, she was moved to Cottesmore and was looked after by 4 Squadron, back in the correct markings as XE606. She was displayed outside one of the hangars and was kept in generally good condition. With the shocking and early end to Harrier operations, RAF Cottesmore closed as a flying station, soon to be disbanded entirely.
This left XE606 looking for another home, and thankfully found one with 8 Squadron at Waddington. During 2012, she briefly moved to Barkston Heath for a repaint, and once that was done moved onwards to RAF Waddington for a formal unveiling on 2nd June 2013 (replacing the Phantom that used to be on display). XE606 is now marked up as XE620, the aircraft Sqn Ldr Tam Syme had as OC 8 Sqn from 1963 to 1965.
With the move of the Red Arrows in 2022 from Scampton to Waddington, XE606 was replaced by a Hawk T.1. Thankfully, she has managed to find a new home at Boulmer, where she will continue her gate-guarding duties, after a change to 20 Squadron colours. However, while the groundworks at Boulmer are being completed, she has stopped off at the North East Land Sea & Air Museum (NELSAM), where she'll be displayed for the time being.
Information on this page current as of 19/10/2022, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of XE620 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net