The Hawker Hunter in British Service

The Hawker Hunter is one of Britain’s classic postwar jet aircraft. Initially introduced in 1954 as a swept—wing, transonic, single—seat day interceptor, it rapidly succeeded the first—generation jet fighters in RAF service such as the Gloster Meteor (see Flight Craft 13) and the de Havilland Venom. Powered by the then newly developed Rolls—Royce Avon turbojet, the Hunter’s performance transformed the RAF’s day fighter squadrons from the mid—1950s until the advent of the English Electric Li...