Export Hunters and serials underneath its wings

[YK GOH]

With the release of the excellent Airfix 1/48 Hunter F.6, the forthcoming F.4 and potentially FGA.9/FR.10 in the future, there are opportunities to make it into the machines of the air forces of the several countries that it had served.

Many air forces adopted the RAF style system of applying the aircraft serial numbers underneath the wings, and in photographs can be noticed on main wheel doors, particularly when the droptanks are not installed. It is also more evident when the serial is applied in two rows compared to one row.

However, some air forces removed the wing serials after the aircraft went into service, eg. Singapore Air Force, Iraqi AF.

Aftermarket decals sometime left the wings serials out, such as that for the Indian AF, Rhodesia and Qatari Hunters.

I have compiled the following table from photographic evidence.

Those with question marks need confirmation and am continuing searching for photographic evidence.

Look forward to comments, corrections and any leads that can improve the information in the table.

 

 

 

 

[sloegin57]

The Jordanian Hunter '708' referred to in the table above was not a Jordanian Hunter.  It was formerly F.6 IF-110 of the Belgian Air Force, converted to an F.56A of the Indian Air Force,serial A-471 painted up to look like a RJAF aircraft.  Following its display at Farnborough, it was repainted in its proper colours and delivered with 3 others with a Canberra B(I)58, IF-976, as Navigation escort, on the 2nd November 1966.  Jordanian Air Force Hunters did not carry serials under the wings. 

 

The RSAF had adopted the USAF style of markings with the exception that the first digits of the serial indicated the User Unit.  In the case of the Hunter F.6's and T.7's; the designation F.60 and T.70 came in later;  the User Unit was the 6th Squadron RSAF.  On arrival in Kingdom, the first two numerals of the delivery serial were removed and the last three used as the serial, e.g. 60-602 became 602 and 70-616 became 616.  As the aircraft did not serve with any other Unit, unlike the Lightnings, F-15's, Hawks, F-86's et al,  the serials were retained until the aircraft were transferred to other Air Forces.  RSAF aircraft had distinctive, USAF style markings on the mainplanes with the Green/White roundel on the port upper and stbd lower mainplane surface and "RSAF" in Green or Black on the opposing mainplane surfaces.  The RSAF museum example, marked as 60-602, is incorrect in that it has roundels on all four mainplane surfaces, the serial and inscription on the nose and rear fuselage are in black, should be green and it has a tail brake chute, the original F.6's supplied did not.  It appears that the decal sheet is based on this aircraft.

 

Saudi Hunters as supplied, did not carry serials under the mainplanes for the reasons given above.  

 

Dennis

[YK GOH]

Hi Dennis,

 

Thank you very much on the actual identity of the Hunter displayed as RJAF 708-J at the 1966 Farnborough Airshow.  It sure looks authentic as it was painted in full RJAF markings complete with red nose and tail and with 1 Squadron's markings. I was wondering why it has a parachute housing as it was supposed to be an F.6, and thought it could have been upgraded by Hawker Siddeley and displayed at the airshow.

 

I was also curious on whether the Saudi Hunters have roundels on both wings or with the RSAF titles on the wings USAF-style, like its Strikemasters and Lightnings. However, am unable to find photographic confirmation on this. The only reference that mention that the Saudi roundel was applied on the upper port wing and lower starboard wing only was on Pg.215 in the Feb 1984 edition of Scale Aircraft Modelling. However, it did not mention anything on the "RSAF" titles. 

Thanks again for your interesting information.

 

YK

[YK GOH]

Had this book on the Royal Saudi Air Force and there is a photo of a pair of 6 Squadron's Hunters in flight, as mentioned in the caption.

Unfortunately the under surface of wings are in shadows and of no help.

 

 

Here the scanned and enlarge image of the photo of interest.

 

 

 

[sloegin57]

3 hours ago, YK GOH said:

Had this book on the Royal Saudi Air Force and there is a photo of a pair of 6 Squadron's Hunters in flight, as mentioned in the caption.

Unfortunately the under surface of wings are in shadows and of no help.

Here the scanned and enlarge image of the photo of interest.

 

 

 

I do not think that it would have been any good anyway YK as they do not appear to be Saudi Hunters. Firstly they have a brake para rear end, which the F.6's did not have and secondly they are carrying the large tanks only associated with the F.6A's/FGA.9's.  Further, the large roundel on the fuselage side is not visible (see my photo at the bottom of Page 75 of the book) neither is the Blue undersurface.  I think that they are possibly Omani aircraft 

 

Dennis

[YK GOH]

You are right Dennis. The book must have borrowed a photo from the Omanis. What a let down.

Photos of Saudi Hunters are so hard to find.

[YK GOH]

Hi Dennis,

For the Royal Saudi Air Force Hunter: no serial number below wings. Roundels on port upper wing and starboard lower wing. "RSAF" title on starboard upper wing and port lower wing.

I added the "RSAF" titles using the profiles from the Xtradecal 48203 instruction sheet taken off the web. Would this be a reasonable representation of the actual aircraft?

Pardon the crude effort.

 

Edited April 24, 2019 by YK GOH
Added profile of underside view.

[YK GOH]

I don't have much information on Peruvian Hunters other than a very interesting 12-page article by Duncan Simpson in the Jan 2013 edition of The Aviation Historian. The photos all shows undercarriage doors with no signs of serials. on it. 

The drawings below are extracted from an old copy of Aircam Aviation Series, No.26 on Hawker Hunters.

It shows the aircraft serial positioned far right on the starboard wing top. If its repeated in a similar position on the port lower wing, it will not be painted over the wheel doors. So my guess its that the Peruvian aircraft has its serial number below the wings as well. Again, I stand to be corrected.

 

[YK GOH]

Came across this website.

http://aviationinmalta.com/MilitaryAviation/Deliveries/Hunter/tabid/695/language/en-US/Default.aspx

 

I supposed its a eye-witness account that the Saudi Hunters has their roundels on the left upper and lower right wing surfaces. ....and that the "RSAF" letters in green on the right upper and left lower wing surfaces.

[Diego]

Regarding Peruvian Hunters :

During the first service years, the FAP Hunters had their codes (6xx) applied on the fuselage only.

The wing roundel was applied on the upper surface of the left wing only, the under surfaces being completely "clean", i.e. no roundel, no code. This can be clearly seen on photos and videos showing the performances of the acrobatic group "cuatro ases", flying Hunters in standard paint scheme.

Later (after change of codes, from 6xx to 1xx, in 1962,  or possibly a bit earlier) the individual codes were also applied on the upper surface of the right wing (only).

 

Greetings

Diego

Edited February 11, 2020 by Diego

[YK GOH]

Thanks very much Diego for the insights on the Peruvian Hunters.

[sloegin57]

2 hours ago, YK GOH said:

Came across this website.

http://aviationinmalta.com/MilitaryAviation/Deliveries/Hunter/tabid/695/language/en-US/Default.aspx

 

I supposed its a eye-witness account that the Saudi Hunters has their roundels on the left upper and lower right wing surfaces. ....and that the "RSAF" letters in green on the right upper and left lower wing surfaces.

Thank you for posting that.  

 

The information regarding Malta Hunter movements came from both the late Bob Elliott and myself who compiled a list, remarkably similar to the one published, for Air Britain many many moons ago.  

 

I am afraid that the Maltese "historians" do have a penchant for "lifting" information without due credit to the authors.

 

The "eye-witness" account was the same who has published it on this thread - me.

 

Dennis

[YK GOH]

Thank you very much Dennis, for your clarification on the source of the information and also most grateful for such eye-witness records, particularly when there is a lack of photographic evidence.

YK