A new and much anticipated aircraft arrival at Caboolture airfield on 2 September 2014 was Hawker Hunter S4/U/3308 XF432 FR74B, G-9-363, and G-BABM, Singapore “526”. 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 has placed the aircraft at Caboolture Qld for display in the hangar where Beaufort A8-141 is being restored. It is intended to restore the aircraft to non-flying but operational status with a working engine and systems. The aircraft is highly historic and significant in that it was at one time the famous Hawker Siddeley demonstrator G-BABM which toured the world and was featured in many magazines in the 1970’s.
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.
Hawker Hunter 526 arrived from open storage at Brisbane Airport, on a flatbed semi-trailer and was rapidly unpacked by Geoff’s specialist team and a host of eager volunteers from the Beaufort restoration group. Although it has spent years in storage everybody was very impressed with the condition and completeness of the aircraft and the restoration should prove fairly straightforward especially with Geoff’s unique knowledge of the Hunter.
Hawker Hunter 526 History
Constructed as part of a 100 aircraft batch as an F Mk.6 by Armstrong Witworth 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. “G-9-363” 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 utilized to demonstrate the aircrafts capabilities culminating in its famous and exciting display at the 1976 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.
The Singaporeans had the most advanced, if not complicated of the Hunters, with Sidewinder and centreline pylon. Instrument and avionics were upgraded by Lockheed in the eighties. Also they converted the gun packs to camera packs as well as the nose cameras. One of which will be on display.
This Hawker Hunter is one of the most famous and significant of these cold war fighters and was operated in Australia several times as part of a Singaporean training exercise from RAAF Williamtown, NSW.
It’s a great addition to the somewhat sparse numbers of Cold War jets on display in Australia!
© John Parker 2014
My Husband Donald William Brims deceased July 1987, flew with
208 Squadron in 1959. His Hunter was XF432, he also flew
in a formation team.
Susan Brims
Hi Susan
That is extremely interesting and we appreciate your letting us know. We have no photos of it in RAF service. If you have any photographs that we could share it would be really good and any details about your husbands service would also be very interesting to our readers if you are happy to share this information.
kind regards
John
Dear John,
I have some photos of XF432 and also Dons log book.
The first record of XF432 is !st April 1958 208 squadron.
Yours sincerely,
Susan Brims
Dear John,
Sorry I had not replied to you before, I was just browsing the site and found your message.
I have two photographs of Don flying the Hunter 432. One of the pictures has
three planes on it.
I also have his Log Books.
I would be pleased to share these with you.
Sue Brims
Hi Sue
that is great. Thanks for sharing. I will email you separately so that we can arrange access to this material.
kind regards
John
I just LOVE the Hawker Hunter – arguably one of the most elegant and sexiest jets to fly!!! I currently possess a fully operable Feranti gunsight (with service card) from a Singaporean Hunter.
Hi Tim
That’s a great souvenir to have. We hope to see the Hawker Hunter underway again. It is a big job.
Kind regards
John
Please help us, TNI AU/Indonesian Airforce currently is doing restoration project for one of Royal Dutch Airforce Hawker Hunter they had left in Papua. There is so much missing parts and damaged components, need extensive repair.
If you had any info regarding surplus parts please left info and comments here
https://c.uctalks.ucweb.com/detail/8013a859bec1499386ef5f99ebf31e55?uc_param_str=dnvebichfrmintcpwidsudsvnwpflameefut&stat_entry=personal&comment_stat=1
Thank Tomo
We hope someone can assist you.
Kind regards
John
We have a complete set of Non Destructive Testing (NDT) reference kits for the Hunter available, should anyone be working on a return to flight restoration.
Hi David
You may want to contact HARS as they have one awaiting restoration and they may be interested. Contact them at https://hars.org.au/contact-us/
Kind regards
John
I have owned a Hawker Hunter for years. Less engine. Stored inside, wings off, in cradle ready for transport.
Failing health so will sell super reasonable.
Anyone interested?
Can anyone point me in the right direction.
Thank you,
Eric
Hi Eric
We will share your note. Let us know if you still have it for sale and we will post a note on Friends of the Hawker Hunter for you.
Kind regards
John