762 G-BABM Hunter Mk 74B Farnborough 05-09-72

Gordon Riley
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762 G-BABM Hunter Mk 74B Farnborough 05-09-72
762 G-BABM Hunter Mk 74B Farnborough 05-09-72

Constructed as part of a 100 aircraft batch as an F Mk.6 by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft in 1955. Centre Fuselage Number S4/U/3308 delivered to No5 Maintenance Unit RAF at Kemble and then served with RAF No 208 Squadron from 5/3/1958 until 6/4/1959 and then to Horsham St Faith. On 14/10/1959 the Hunter was returned to Hawker Siddley for conversion to a Fighter Reconnaissance FR.Mk.10 and flew again in November 1960 in the hands of Pilot Don Lucey. On 21/12/1960 the Hunter was again delivered to the RAF and passed to No2 Sqn 9/2/1961, coded as “S” on then passed on to No 4 Sqn as “K” on 29/1/1970. The Hunter was purchased back by HAS on 17/5/1971 and given the company code G-9-363. It was then selected by the company for preparation as a company demonstrator and was rebuilt to FR Mk. 74B standard and fitted with a standard fighter nose then placed on the UK civil register as G-BABM.

In this guise the aircraft was painted in a “Middle East” color scheme of Sand, Brown upper surfaces and azure blue lower surfaces and carried the flags of the 18 countries which operated the type at the time. The aircraft was utilised to demonstrate the aircraft's capabilities culminating in its famous and exciting display at the 1972 Farnborough Airshow UK. The aircraft was then transferred to the Singaporean Air Force coded as 526 and again fitted with the characteristic “FR” nose which is still fitted. Over the years of service the aircraft was extensively upgraded and modified in Singapore and was eventually retired and sold to Geoff Moesker along with another 20 remaining Hunters in 1995. The Hunter has spent many years since then in storage.

Arrived at Caboolture airfield, Queensland, on 2 September 2014, the aircraft is the last of 21 ex-Singapore Air Force Hunters that Geoff Moesker acquired in 1995 and is still owned by him.

Geoff is intending to completely restore the aircraft in its demonstrator colors of Sand and Brown upper surfaces and azure blue lower surfaces along with civil registration markings G-BABM. He has a supply of spares and equipment for the aircraft which is already very complete and “untouched” with its engine still fitted. An additional Rolls Royce Avon 207C engine with be displayed alongside the aircraft along with other equipment.

See www.warbirdsonline.com.au/2014/09/14/hawker-hunter-aussie...

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Taken on: September 9, 1972
Tags: Everybody's photos tagged with hawker hawker Everybody's photos tagged with hunter hunter
Sets appears in:   • SBAC Farnborough 1972    • Slide scans   
Groups appears in:   • Hawker Hurricane & all Hawker aircraft    • HISTORIC AIRCRAFT    more » • Pre Digital Aviation    • G- .... British Civil Aircraft Register    « less
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