Hawker Hunter - Survivor 'XG168' (really XG172, composite with WT799/ET-272)
FR.10 XG168 - City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk
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Hunter FR.10 XG168 at City of Norwich Aviation Museum, 3rd December 2022; Jake Wallace
XG172 carried out her first flight in 1956, and went on to serve with 19 and 263 Squadrons, then 229 OCU and 1 TWU before retirement to the Trade Management Training Squadron at RAF Scampton in September 1984. Whilst at Scampton, gained the maintenance number 8832M.
Once Scampton had finished with XG172 was purchased by Everett Aero in 1995, who then sold it on to The Jet Centre at North Weald in 1997. At North Weald she was stored outside with several parts missing, while The Jet Centre was looking into returning to fly condition. However, this didn't happen, and instead was brought by Classic Jets based at Exeter, before being acquired by a private owner who moved it to the City of Norwich Aviation Museum in 2001.
With a Javelin recently leaving the museum, XG172 filled this gap nicely. After her arrival, many parts were fitted to her that were missing over the past few years, such as the tail, ailerons, and various other panels. Later, she was repainted into the colours of XG168, an FR.10 variant, with XG172 having the nose to match, even though she's more an F.6A than anything else. The repaint had a superb finish to it, but unfortunately does not seem to be very UV resistant, with all the upper surfaces fading badly, and in some places has even begun to flake back to bare metal. A similar reaction can also be seen on some of the other aircraft at the museum.
Once Scampton had finished with XG172 was purchased by Everett Aero in 1995, who then sold it on to The Jet Centre at North Weald in 1997. At North Weald she was stored outside with several parts missing, while The Jet Centre was looking into returning to fly condition. However, this didn't happen, and instead was brought by Classic Jets based at Exeter, before being acquired by a private owner who moved it to the City of Norwich Aviation Museum in 2001.
With a Javelin recently leaving the museum, XG172 filled this gap nicely. After her arrival, many parts were fitted to her that were missing over the past few years, such as the tail, ailerons, and various other panels. Later, she was repainted into the colours of XG168, an FR.10 variant, with XG172 having the nose to match, even though she's more an F.6A than anything else. The repaint had a superb finish to it, but unfortunately does not seem to be very UV resistant, with all the upper surfaces fading badly, and in some places has even begun to flake back to bare metal. A similar reaction can also be seen on some of the other aircraft at the museum.
Information on this page current as of 05/12/2022, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of XG168 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net