Chilean Hunters in March 1989

[Basilisk]

Chile received 21 Hawker Hunter FGA Mk.71 (which was based on the FGA Mk.9) in 1967, and additional Hunter orders followed over the years and they saw service with Grupo's 7, 8 and 9.

 

Grupo 8 was the last unit operating the Hunter until 1995 from Base Aérea Cerro Moreno near Antofagasta and I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days with the unit in March 1989.

 

At the time, most active Hunters had been upgraded under the Águila (eagle) program which incorporated updated avionics, a standardized cockpit layout and a rear warning radar Caiquén II plus additional armament capabilities. Modified aircraft can be easily recognized by the RWR antennas on the tail.

 

FGA Mk.71 Águila 708 was former Dutch F Mk.6 N-276 and was in Chilean service since February 1968

Here with a range of hardware it can carry.

 

And in various angles on the ramp.

 

 

 

 

 

Of interest is that aircraft with the Grupo 8 patch on the nose had it only on the port side. And during taxiing, they used an air intake cover to stop FOD.

 

The same aircraft excellently flown by Capitán (A) Sr. Duncan Silva during a very low flypast!

 

And back on terra firma.

 

 

FR Mk.71A Águila 715 was former RAF F Mk.6 XK148 and was delivered in July 1968. Here during an engine test run.

 

 

This aircraft was freshly painted and still without the Grupo 8 patch on the nose. of interest is also the white air intake I have only seen on this aircraft.

 

FGA Mk.71 725 was former RAF F Mk.6 XF512 and was delivered in March 1971. This aircraft never received the Águila upgrade.

 

Part of FGA Mk.71 Águila 728 which was former RAF F Mk.6 XE644 and was delivered in July 1971.

 

FGA Mk.71 Águila 729 was former RAF F Mk.6 XE625 and was also delivered in July 1971.

 

 

 

FGA Mk.71 Águila 731 was former RAF F Mk.4 WT801 and was delivered in September 1973.

The desert climate at Antofagasta can be very corrosive and the aircraft need to be washed from time to time.

 

FGA Mk.71 Águila 732 was former RAF F Mk.4 XF323 and was also delivered in September 1973.

 

 

FR Mk.71A Águila 734 was former RAF F Mk.4 XF317 and was delivered in January 1974.

 

 

 

 

FR Mk.71A Águila 735 was former RAF F Mk.4 WV326 and was also delivered in January 1974.

Even though delivered as a FR version, it does have the FGA nose fitted here!

 

T Mk.72 Águila 736 was former RAF F Mk.6 XE704/XE688 and was delivered in February 1974.

 

This aircraft was sold to EMBRAER in 2000 and flew in Brasil in 2001 as PP-XHH.

 

T Mk.72 Águila 718 was former Hawker owned Mk.66A G-APUX and was delivered in 1967.

 

An air-to-air sortie was planned with this aircraft, and I was warned that it all depends on the serviceability of the old girl. Fortunately, I was lucky and I experianced a very memorable flight in this aircraft.

Always fun flying low.

 

Pictures from the left don't work too well on a side-by-side seating arrangement when seated in the right seat.

 

But it worked well to the right. Here FR Mk.71A Águila 734 during a pull-up.

 

 

 

 

And four Hunters (229, 740, 734 and 732) in a left echelon formation.

 

 

And 740, 734 and 732 commencing a belly turn. (Actually 728 is there too but hidden by 740 and 734).

 

 

And the four aircraft in a line abreast formation.

 

 

And during a fan peel-off.

Note the wrap around leading edge camouflage on 728 and 732 and the variations in the light grey colours plus the oil stains - a modelers nightmare!

 

and the picture back on the ramp after the successful flight.

 

Chile received several FGA Mk.9s and 747 was former RAF FGA Mk.9  XF376 and was delivered in May 1982.

These FGA Mk.9s were never upgraded and flew for a relatively short time and ended as source of spare parts.

 

I hope I didn't bore you too much with so many Hunter pictures, but it is one of my favored aircraft. Let me close with this picture I took in the Grupo 8 crew room.

 

If interested in the Chilean Hunters, there is an excellent book on them.
https://www.amazon.com/First-Hawker-Hunter-Chilean-Force/dp/1387508792/

 

Thanks for looking and I hope these pictures are of interest to some.
Cheers, Peter

[Phantom726]

Stunning and historical images. Thanks very much for taking the time to share them with the rest of us.

[exdraken]

Great, and rare stuff!!

Very nice!

 

Weren't they also involved in some military coop in Chile? Or am I mixing things up...

[ForestFan]

Wow! Fabulous pictures, thanks for sharing

[geedubelyer]

A superb pictorial essay. 

Thank you so much for sharing this. 🙏

[Latinbear]

Quite simply, Wow! Absolutley fabulous images of very rare aircraft and thank you for sharing. I think my favourites have to be the low flypast, the air to air shots and the final one of the Hunter crew room mug board.  

[Duncan B]

Great photos, thanks for sharing.

 

Duncan B

[canberraman]

Fantastic, rare and evocative images of a beautiful aircraft. Those air to airs are sublime!

 

Thanks for posting,

 

Mark

[cpoud117]

Amazing pics, thanks!

 

[Basilisk]

Good to hear that you all like the pictures and thanks for your kind words.

 

20 hours ago, exdraken said:

Weren't they also involved in some military coop in Chile? Or am I mixing things up...

Yes, there was an incident in September 1973 when attacking some targets in the capital Santiago. You can find more on this LINK which is a good primer on the FACh Hunter operations.

[HOUSTON]

Historical images of rare Aircrafts are always a pleasure  to see.

You have certainly captured the awesomeness  of that era.

   

Thank you very much for sharing  your photographs which bring back memories of watching news about the Chilean coup and these lovely aircrafts.

[RidgeRunner]

My goodness, what a fantastic post, Peter! As always, your photos are magnificent!!!!

 

Martin

 

[ColinChipmunkfan]

Lovely photos, thank you for posting.  Hunters are so photogenic.

Colin