Return to HSA: Refurbishment & Resale
1968-1971

 

Photo: Hunter N-222 (later QA12), with squadron badge removed, just before retirement from the RNAF (Credit: MAP)

 

In the 1960s the export success of the Hunter was reaching a peak. However, Hawker Siddeley Aviation was struggling to find sufficient numbers of airframes suitable for refurbishment and resale. Many of the Dutch and Belgian-built Hunter F.6s were therefore bought back by Hawker to meet the demand.

 

On 13th August 1968 N-222 was re-purchased by HSA and allocated the Class B registration G-9-284.

 

At that time N-222 had logged 1,388.15 flying hours and 1,417 landings.

 

The conversion work, to bring the aircraft to a standard similar to the RAF's FGA Mark 9s, was undertaken by Armstrong-Whitworth (by then part of the Hawker Siddeley group) at Bitteswell.

 

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