Visit organiser Dick Poole reports…
A group of 28 Association Members and guests visited
Tangmere
Military Aviation Museum on the 20th July to a commemoration of the
70th anniversary of the first flight of the P.1067, Hawker Hunter
prototype WB188, from A&AEE Boscombe Down. The aircraft, converted
to be the only Mk 3 (with reheated Avon) is displayed in immaculate
condition in the museum. Neville Duke CTP (Chief Test Pilot) of Hawker
Aircraft Ltd at Dunsfold made an approximately 60 minute sortie after a
series of ground acceleration-stops at ever increasing speeds to
determine a suitable airspeed for lift off. On landing after general
handling checks he declared the aircraft to be “jolly good“.
The day’s programme started with a period of
socialising which
members enjoyed having not been able to do this since March 2020 . The
group was then welcomed to Tangmere by Dudley Hooley, Chairman of the
Museum. A short presentation by Museum Director David Coxon on the
first flight of WB188 revealed that Sir Sidney Camm was delayed in
setting off to Boscombe Down and arrived after the flight was over and
the observers had left.
A presentation by Association Member Kieron Kirk
covered the
numbers of aircraft produced, the range of marks and the customers who
operated them. He also described the re-manufacturing and upgrading of
early aircraft which proved very profitable for Hawker.
Heinz Frick, retired Dunsfold CTP, then described
what the Hunter was like to fly operationally and noted its
serviceability problems in the very hot and wet climate in the Far
East. He explained that the squadrons suffered many electrical failures
as a result. He and Chairman (also a retired CTP) Chris Roberts agreed
that the aircraft was a “dream machine” to fly and praised its handling
characteristics.
Finally, the writer made a brief presentation on the
successful World Absolute Airspeed record attempt at low level off
Little Hampton, the modifications to the aircraft, the course and the
work-up flying. Prior to the record attempt the port main leg extended
un-commanded resulting in a massive wing drop at 540 mph and 1,000ft.
This was skilfully arrested by Neville who carried out a nose- and
main-wheel landing at Dunsfold after handling checks in the landing
configuration. The port wing and gear were removed for repair at
Kingston and the aircraft was ready to fly on the 7th September when
two attempts were made and a record of 727.6 mph was achieved.
Chris Roberts thanked the museum management and
staff for hosting the event. This was followed by a sandwich lunch,
more socialising and a group photograph in front of WB188 taken by the
redoubtable Frank Rainsborough (Contact Richard Cannon for a link to
see this and others of the day’s activities).
The management and staff of the museum were
very supportive in organising and realising this event and I would
recommend a visit to anyone.