As the first jet powered fighter aircraft developed by Hawker Aircraft, the Hunter was developed for the RAF with their test pilot Neville Duke flying the modified prototype, breaking the world air speed on 7th September 1953. The first production Hawker Hunter T7 first flew on 11th October 1957 from Dunsfold.
In 1961 the Blue Diamond Display Team operated sixteen blue painted Hawker Hunter F6 aircraft under the leadership of Squadron Leader Brian Mercer (an ex Black Arrows display team member). Split into four sections of four Hunters, in flight they joined up to create one large diamond formation of all sixteen aircraft in formation. Six Blue Diamond aircraft demonstrated the Hunter’s abilities, joining the Black Arrows to set a record that still stands today by looping and barrel rolling 22 Hunters in formation together.
Built as T.7 XL605 in 1958, it served with 92 Squadron - the Blue Diamonds – leading the team of F6s going onto serve with 66 Squadron and 229 OCU before being converted as a T70 in 1966. The aircraft was loaned to the Royal Saudi Air Force for jet conversion training as 70-617. It moved on to serve with the Royal Jordanian Air Force in 1968, returning to the RAF in 1974 in exchange for a FR10, where it was refurbished as XX467 and serving with 229 OCU and the TWU, retiring to ground duties in 1983.
Marked as XX467, it was originally sold in 1997 to Delta Jets at Kemble to begin a full restoration to airworthy condition and put on the civil register as G-TVII. It was then sold to Dave Thomas and moved to Bruntingthorpe to be reassembled to taxiing condition but restoration efforts were halted due to wiring issues.
XX467 moved in early May 2017 to the museum and after being repainted by a group of dedicated volunteers, has now faithfully been returned to original Blue Diamond Display Team colours depicting when she served with 92 Squadron as her original XL605 identity.
Photo Credit: Gordon McGeachie
