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Dates |
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Event |
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Constructed as a Hunter T.8.
Built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at Kingston-upon-Thames, |
15 October 1958 |
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First flight.
Flown by David Lockspeiser. |
1 December 1958 |
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Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Navy with s/n XL598. |
8 January 1959 |
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Transferred to 764 Navy Air Squadron, RNAS Lossiemouth.
Operated with markings: 703, LM |
From 1960 to 1962 |
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Transferred to RNAY Belfast.
For maintenance. |
9 May 1962 |
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Transferred to RNAS Lossiemouth.
Operated with markings: 632 |
1963 |
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Transferred to 738 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Brawdy.
Operated with markings: 632 |
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Markings Applied: 779 |
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Markings Applied: 775 |
From November 1965 to June 1966 |
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Transferred to 5 MU, RAF Kemble.
For maintenance. |
From 19 July 1966 to Circa 1970 |
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Transferred to 738 NAS, RNAS Brawdy.
Operated with markings: 778 |
From May 1970 to October 1971 |
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Transferred to 5 MU, RAF Kemble.
For maintenance. |
8 September 1971 |
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Photographer: Phillip Dawe
Notes: XL598/VL-741 - Hunter T.8 - Royal Navy / FRADTU - RNAS Yeovilton |
15 October 1971 |
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Transferred to Air Direction Training Unit, (ADTU), RNAS Yeovilton.
Operated with markings: 741, VL
Operated by Airwork Services Ltd. |
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Converted to a Hunter T.8C. |
1 December 1972 |
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Transferred to Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Training Unit, (FRADU), RNAS Yeovilton.
Operated with markings: 741, VL |
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Markings Applied: 871, VL |
January 1978 |
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Markings Applied: 870 |
Circa 1979 |
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Photographer: Ken Videan
Notes: At Yeovilton. |
From 29 July 1983 to 22 June 1984 |
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Transferred to RAF Abingdon.
For a comprehensive overhaul. |
From 22 June 1984 to 5 March 1993 |
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Transferred to FRADU, RNAS Yeovilton.
Operated with markings: 880
Painted in the new dark sea grey colour scheme. |
1 October 1984 |
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Photographer: Robert Nichols
Notes: at RNAS Yeovilton |
From 5 March 1993 to November 1994 |
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Assigned to RNAS Yeovilton for storage. |
From 8 December 1994 to 21 March 1995 |
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To Barry James Pover, Crownhill, Plymouth with new c/r G-BVWG. |
21 March 1995 |
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To Beachy Head Aviation Ltd, City Airport, Crownhill, Plymouth keeping c/r G-BVWG. |
From 19 April 1995 to By 26 April 1995 |
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Ferry flight.
XL598 took off from Exeter, and routing via Italy, Greece, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi arrived at Cape Town a week later. Flown by Hunter display pilot Brian Henwood with Mike Beachyhead in the right hand seat. |
12 June 1995 |
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Civil registration, G-BVWG, cancelled.
Exported to South Africa. |
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To unknown owner with c/r ZU-ATH.
Based at Cape Town, South Africa. |
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Markings Applied: none
Finished in representative Black Arrows colours. One of the Founder members of the famous Thunder City fleet. |
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With the winding down of the Thunder City collection during 2011, ZU-ATH was offered for sale via bid auction that summer, but the closing date has since been extended to 31st January 2013.It is currently stored in a dismantled state, and would require an overhaul before it could be flown again. |
