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View Full Version : Hawker Hunter T.8C WT799 Jet. West Yorks April 12



ROYALBOB
29-04-2012, 01:38 PM
While driving around looking for possibles, the derpdar pinged, is that a Jet in a field? Nar, spun around, yes, a Jet, parked up in a deep sea diving training place, apparently the owners bought two of these to sink in the nearby lake for underwater diver training but they kept this one above ground and just sunk the one. Anyroad pics of said jet...

The plane during its working life..
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7210/7124165427_c1006fafb5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalbob1/7124165427/)

As she is today..

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6978082614_bfbb11d24a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalbob1/6978082614/)

Hunter WT799 was built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at Kingston-upon-Thames as a Mk.4 for the Royal Air Force. It was test flown for the first time on 26th April 1955 by Duncan Simpson, and was handed over to the RAF on 1st June. Issued to RAF 111(F) Sqn at RAF North Weald, the aeroplane later saw service with RAF 4(F) Sqn based at Jever in West Germany. During this period of service, WT799 suffered damage substained from a wheels-up landing in March 1956, which resulted in the airframe being returned to the UK for repairs by the manufacturers. The aeroplane was later transferred to the Royal Navy officially and placed in short term store

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7043/7124165111_65c6d02526_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalbob1/7124165111/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8167/6978081996_7dcb682844_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalbob1/6978081996/)

WT799 was selected for conversion to T.8 specification by Hawker Aircraft Ltd, and it took its first flight as such from Dunsfold on 20th January 1959. It was accepted into the Fleet Air Arm the following month but did not immediately enter service, instead being loaned to the RAE (Royal Aircraft Establishment) at Bedford on 16th March. Its first Fleet Air Arm posting duly came in October 1959, when it was issued to Heron Flight at RNAS Yeovilton as aeroplane '948' with a 'VL' shore code. It subsequently remained in use there until February 1963 when it was flown to RNAY Belfast for maintenance.
During December 1963, WT799 joined 759NAS (Navy Air Squadron) at RNAS Brawdy where it was issued the identity '663', though this was later changed to '661'. It was placed in store at Kemble a year later, but was returned to service in May 1966 with 759NAS, this time as aeroplane '802'. A change of scenery occurred in January 1967, when WT799 was moved to RNAS Lossiemouth to join 764NAS as aeroplane '689', and this was followed in February 1970 with a move to RNAS Lee-on-Solent for maintenance.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6978081814_f08343ba5a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalbob1/6978081814/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7124164313_58b749b7b7_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalbob1/7124164313/)

On 24th July 1970, WT799 arrived at Hurn to join the (Fleet Requirements Unit). As '839', and being the sole two seat aeroplane in the fleet, WT799 was used extensively and moved with the FRU to RNAS Yeovilton in October 1972. On 1st December that year, the aeroplane became a member of the FRADU (Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Training Unit) fleet, following the merger of the FRU with the Yeovilton-based ADTU (Air Direction Training Unit). Over the next ten years WT799 was in and out of service at Yeovilton, receiving re-finishes at Kemble (November-December 1973, September-December 1977 and April-May 1979) and maintenance at Sydenham (March-September 1976). The aeroplane lost its '839' identity in 1974, and was re-assigned the fleet number '879'

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/7124163937_37e869a0ca_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalbob1/7124163937/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8022/7124163497_ec5606beb4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalbob1/7124163497/)

On 2nd September 1982, WT799 was withdrawn from the FRADU fleet and ferried to RAF Shawbury for long-term storage. It remained at the RAF base for the next twelve years, retaining the classic 1970's light aircraft grey and red livery, before being put up for disposal.

The jet in grey livery
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8159/7124165551_2f5b0d49d2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalbob1/7124165551/)

yorkietommo
29-04-2012, 05:06 PM
Coolios. I think we looked for this before, when we went to the house with the cars that had just been cleared?

Underwater cams needed for the rest of this one.

myke
29-04-2012, 07:49 PM
radar was spot on some cool shots there

Clough
29-04-2012, 08:50 PM
Sweeeet

Tankman
30-04-2012, 10:40 AM
Very nice and well spotted that man, good write up as well:thumb

ERNIE99_UK
30-04-2012, 01:19 PM
Intersting stuff, if it was mine i wouldnt sink it.

GeoVDUB
02-05-2012, 11:02 PM
I love planes I do, this is ace.

BB
03-05-2012, 01:19 AM
Very nice sire! :thumb

the kwan
03-05-2012, 07:33 PM
Looks amazing, well spotted and good history too...very nice!!!

Bunkerkid
08-05-2012, 03:59 PM
Doesn't look in to bad condition and that picture of her in flight is brilliant! Any pictures of the one they sunk in the water? Maybe your not a scuba diving explorer but maybe there is some elsewhere:w00t

Sorcerer
11-05-2012, 11:56 AM
Some pics of the underwater one here >>> http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t21703.html

Anyone know of any submerged sites ? lol been scoping out a submerged village for a while some say its there others say it was demolished will find out one day :)

ROYALBOB
11-05-2012, 01:47 PM
Cheers, been meaning to tag this on, the owners of the center offered to take me down lol, might be a whole new urbex experience for someone!

Sorcerer
11-05-2012, 05:12 PM
Bit far for me otherwise i'd go dive it love underwater stuff like wrecks, planes and stuff

ROYALBOB
11-05-2012, 05:25 PM
Theres also a ship down there and a few cars

boxerheaven
12-05-2012, 08:20 PM
these are great :)

simonix
26-05-2012, 07:50 AM
Great history and shots.

crippletron 3000
26-05-2012, 02:34 PM
Different, nice one, also my late grandad was once the works manager at a certain Aerospace site, and was responsible for this project and many others in his time, thanks for sharing mate