The Speed Demon That Struck in the Wrong Place
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- On April 5, 1968, RAF Flight Lieutenant Alan Pollock lied to his squadron and took a 4.4-million-pound Hawker Hunter on a little detour.
He expected to be arrested and court-martialed; his reputation forever tarnished. But he had to send the British government a message, and that was worth stealing a fighter jet.
Pollock hugged the terrain with the Hawker Hunter transonic fighter to avoid detection. He reached Heathrow Airport and made a hard turn towards Richmond Park and the Thames. The Hunter’s revolutionary swept-wing design and Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engine had broken the world’s airspeed record just some years back. Today, it took Pollock dashing toward London’s rapidly approaching skyline.
He zoomed past Parliament, where lawmakers were ironically discussing noise reduction when the transonic roar made the walls shudder like jello. People ran out to see what was producing the deafening noise, trying to find it in the sky. Someone yelled: (QUOTE) “No, look down there!” pointing toward the jet skimming just above the Thames.
Then, Pollock spotted his final objective, London’s Tower Bridge, straight ahead. It was time to deliver his message. He centered his Hunter and pushed to max speed, aiming to do what no fighter jet had done before…
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I loved flying the Hunter aged 19yrs old it fitted me like a glove flew like a bird, handling was beautiful I could fly it all day long. But then onto the EE Lightning Jesus no time to think or even look at the scenery it went so fast ! All memories now.
Do you still fly recreational or have it all given up ?
Thank you for your service, you lucky man👍🏴🇬🇧
I don't suppose you flew from West Raynham or Coltishall, sir ? I used to watch the Lightnings at Coltishall as a boy, and more recently an Ex Hunter pilot from West Raynham took me on some AWESOME aerobatic flights in a Boeing Stearman, which I will NEVER forget. Peter always spoke fondly of the Hunters too.
Yep to knackered to fly fast jet today!
Bullshit.
Whilst working at Kemble (5mu) in the 80's, my Father wrote 2 books on the Hawker Hunter. The books have detailed descriptions of EVERY single Hunter ever built and what happened to them, including being scraped etc, i have vivid memories of my Dad sat at the kitchen table until stupid o'clock filling in every detail. I still have the books to this day! They were used by Delta Jets (now gone) as a reference point to their rebuilding program of the Hunter's being re-commissioned whilst there. Before he passed away, we went to Delta Jets and unbelievably, they were engine testing one. The emotion on Dad's face was a picture and that noise... Oh that noise!! Miss him dearly.
The 3 near me (tht I also worked on) will def then be in there.Its 3 of the 4 that ended up at Thunder City, Cape Town
RIP your father sir. The books ought to be published as ( they or it.) are a very important historical document(s)
My friend is CEO of Kemble, her father did own a Hawker Hunter (not sure if they still have it though)
That’s super cool.
@@samrodian919 Thank you. We - the family - have said they should be too. Some of the photos are missing but they're generally complete. I remember The Red Arrows being based there with their Knats. Dad told me many years later he was hauled up in front of the Station Commander as he was obtaining information that was - shall we say - a little "'sensitive" back then and not freely available. Good times.
You failed to mention that ground crew like myself also loved the hunter, as it was a delightful plane to work on, unlike most strike craft!
If only the UK had stayed like that and we’d continued to invest in the things we were good at.
Yes! So many innovations came from your country. Why not now?
@@garryferrington811 Money it is incredibly expensive to develop modern jet aircraft. The us can only do it because its companys sell a mixed military and civilian aircraft.
@@tallaster-g7s and yet Sweden manages to produce the world-beating Grippen from an economy a fraction of our size! Maybe if we invested in Grippens instead of F35s and white elephants of the sea we might have the money to do something ourselves! We are going to need to spend an awful lot more now that the Russian Bear is back on the prowl
@@tallaster-g7s not really. Boeing is the only one that does that. The rest do strictly military aircraft, though some “trainer” aircraft are used in civilian programs.
@@tallaster-g7s Dassault, SAAB? It was a political decision to kill the British aircraft industry.
And the sound of a hunter flying overhead.........never forgotten!
D-Note!
I flew a KC-10 refueling mission of 12 F-16's to Thumrait, Oman in 1987. They were in-country to dogfight the British mercenary pilots in Hawker Hunters. There are no flight regulations in Oman. The Brits took full advantage of it. I was briefed before leaving the aircraft to "watch my ass on the ramp"---not for the swarm of equipment servicing our aircraft, but for low-flying Hawkers. I laughed at first. Then I saw one fly-by below the wingtip of the KC-10. These guys were nuts. A visit to base ops showed a black-and-white hero shot of 5 aircraft on the ramp facing head-on to the camera man, a pilot standing in front of the four outside aircraft. About the time you wonder why the middle aircraft doesn't have a man in front, you notice that aircraft has a heat bloom behind it... and the gear is up. Only the Brits would pull a stunt like that. They are legends in the air.
True because I was there on the Hunter flight line, ramp.
First single seat aircraft I flew. As I collected my helmet and g suit, I was told two pilots had died in a Gnat crash at RAF Shawbury. Took the shine off that flight. RIP..
Mmm 1977 ? If I am right Ill tell you why they died.
@@rickharriss I think you are correct. My info was a poor approach off a serviceable aircraft where they got the AOA wrong and stalled on finals.
I worked on the Hawker Hunter for several years here in Newport News VA for ATAC. They still fly them, as well as the K-Fir C2, almost daily.
How does it feel to be a part of history? Even if you’re just one of many people who kept these aircraft flying!
Fortunate to see two ATAC Hunters in KBay during RIMPAC14. My ears perked up as soon as I heard the engines.
No aircraft engineer. Too young to see them fly. Have never seen one in the 'flesh'. But has to be one of the most beautiful looking aircraft going. One of my favourites. Just received a 1.48 scale Airfix model to build. Looking forward to it .........
Brings back memories I built the Airfix model one of my favourites enjoy
@sr9587 Built a 1/72 back in the 70's. This one is a 1/48 scale....
My favorites tend to be 4th generation jets but the Hawker Hunter is the most beautiful in my book.
maybe i'm biased because it was the first airfix kit i ever built, but i think the hunter is THE most beautiful aircraft ever. everything from the landing gear covers to the gun barrel holes.
They are still in use.. as aggressors
Never flew the Hunter when I was in but I did fly down to Brawdy a couple of times for some target practice (hessian squares towed behind Canberras!) from Valley around 1977 and saw them there. Spoke to some of the old but not bold pilots and they just loved the Hunter. Only one engine, like the Hawks we were flying, but they were FAST! Supersonic in a shallow dive. I was offered a trip in a 2-seater but had to get back to Valley double quick because of the notorious Welsh weather...Never mind, went on to fly F4s out of Leuchars and RAFG so mustn't really complain! Cheers from a rather damp and misty Otford, Kent, UK.
Thank you for avoiding AI animations. This video feels like the many others that made me love this channel.
There are a couple of this narrators channels that have all of a sudden gone AI, either they were pirated or something else but I have found that Dark Seas and Dark Skies are always the real deal with the same narrator that initially hooked us on his channels.
@@annehersey9895 YES! ..i think i saw one on this very story, i gave it a down thumb.
AI sucks... but then, i'm an old fart.
@ Well, I’m an old fartess!! 😀😀😀
@@annehersey9895 I'm in zip code 97222. I buy you a gin and tonic.😽
Comic pronunciation of Canberra and Aden, though😂
There are still 2 Hunters flying regularly operated by Hawker Hunter Aviation from RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.
Thank you
They are still flying with ATAC here in the states. They fly out of Point Mogu here in California.
Yep - seen one four times this year belting low down Dentdale in the Yorkshire Dales heading east from Sedbergh for Dent Head, 90 degrees of bank to get round the corner to the head of the valley. Spectacular, and makes a great change from the Typhoons, F15s, F35s, Ospreys, Hawks, Texans and Atlases we usually see round here! I reckon he's at about a 1000ft above sea level but bearing in mind the valley floor is about 750ft and the Settle to Carlisle railway is also at about 1000ft, it seems pretty low and fast!
@@johnf991 I'd love to see that 👍
How's the supply of Avon engines , I heard a while back they are getting scarce ?
Love the pilot remembering those who saved the whole flaming place. Two fingered salute!
Used to get Hunters drop in to RAF Binbrook when I was there 1983-85. They were either doing cross country navex fro RAF Valley or the Fleet Air Arm had a couple down in Yeovilton. Often they declared an emergency and came intobus. I was an RAF Firefighter so got to see them up close. My favourite a/c remains the English Electric Lightning. OMG that ROAR!!
The Hunter was still in service with the Swiss AF in the late 1980s, I have seen flying them on a few occasions and it's such a graceful plane.
When they were withdrawn some of them were sold off to private pilots. I remember seeing a formation of four doing a display over RAF Leuchars air station perhaps twenty years ago. One had the call letters G-VETA. It still exists but isn't in flying condition. Sadly, after the Shoreham Air Disaster, when the pilot of a Hunter misjudged a stunt and flew into a crowd, killing eleven bystanders. After that displays by amateur-owned vintage fighter aircraft at public airshows were banned.
@@zh84 It was a public road packed with cars, not a willingly participating crowd. And technically those displays are still allowed, just with heavy restrictions. (Seaside airshows are your friend ;) )
I remember seeing them while skiing in Switzerland.
Lived in Chile in the late 1960s, I remember standing in my front yard watching flights of Hunters go overhead at low altitude during the nation's independence day celebrations.
Thanks
The Hunter is often regarded as the 'Spitfire' of Jets in the UK, amongst those who have flown it.
The Hunter is a seriously beautiful machine- fabulous lines, very elegant. It has wonderful flight characteristics- rather like the Spitfire in that respect.
its almost a crime to talk about the hunter and not talk about the Longewala post of India in the Indo Pak war-
The *Battle of Longewala* (4-7 December 1971) demonstrated the decisive power of air support, with *Hawker Hunter jets* playing a pivotal role in India’s victory. As 120 Indian soldiers defended against 2,000-3,000 Pakistani troops and 40-50 tanks, the Hunters arrived at dawn on 5 December and devastated the advancing forces. Using rockets, cannons, and bombs, they destroyed nearly 40 tanks and numerous vehicles, crippling Pakistan’s offensive. Their precision strikes and sustained air support turned the tide, ensuring the vastly outnumbered defenders held their ground. This battle underscored the importance of air-ground coordination and cemented the Hawker Hunter’s legacy as a game-changer in modern warfare.
Thanks. Great Response and some unknown history.
You have to control the air before you can take the ground. What did Pakistan expect?
Brilliant. I wonder if you could tell the story of Operation Blackbuck? The almost impossible bombing of the runway in the Falkland's by a Vulcan bomber using 11 refuelling Victors. Refuelling during lightning storms and very nearly not returning. Its a fascinating story.
got the book, Vulcan 607, the part where they were in America flying through the Grand canyon with visitors looking DOWN at the vulcan as it went by was fantastic
Wow, never heard that one before… I would love to read up on that one.
I remember the documentary showing them flying over the ocean for 12,000 miles But I’m sure the roots were top-secret.
A superbly divine airframe.
He pulled an ace combat move
No-one forgets the Hunter Blue Note, so common in the 60s near any RAF station they were based at, and in the hills and valleys of their practice circuits.
An additional unique feat by the Hunter was the formation loop of 22 aircraft by 111 Sqn. A record, I believe, that still stands today.
Is there any film record of that event?
@@carlhusain1012 yes there is a clip
Played golf with one of the pilots who took part. A national service conscrpt who volunteered for pilot training.
I remember seeing them practising over RAF leconfield for the loop a long time ago
All the Hunters painted black were from Treble One squadron - the Black Arrows.
A friend of mine flew Hunters in Aden. The Army often called them in to help with a firefight with an enemy 30 yards away. The confidence to call in rockets to a target that close says a lot about the expertise of those aircrew.
That would be 8 Sqdn RAF operating out of Khormaksar.
@@JamesCheetham-kh5ee It was, he actually joined as a National Serviceman but signed on as a regular
Beautiful airplane indeed.
8:54: just a short clarification if I may: the video shows Mig21 fighter jets except that the Suez canal crisis took place in 1956 while the Mig21entered service (in the USSR) in 1960...
It also shows the Tower of London when he talks about Tower Bridge at 1:07
It's just a poorly-researched, churned out video rather than a quality documentary.
The aircraft performing a slow roll (8:50) is a Supermarine Swift. The Swift and Hunter were rival types, but the Hunter soon eclipsed the other. However, Nevil Duke's airspeed record in a Hunter over Littlehampton and Tangmere was soon broken by Mike Lithgow in a Swift near Cairo, IIRC.
The speeds achieved by the two (transonic) aircraft were little short of the speed of sound (Mach One). The rapid rise of aerodynamic drag as Mach One is approached was the limiting factor to the maximum airspeed in horizontal flight. Because the speed of sound rises with air temperature, both records were achieved at low altitude, and going to the warmer air in Egypt would have enabled the Swift to fly faster at the same Mach number.
I think the next airspeed record was by the supersonic F-100 Super Sabre, followed by the Fairey FD2 "Delta 2". Both records were achieved at high altitude and at Mach numbers well above Mach One. Once the speed of sound has been exceeded, drag initially reduces. The FD2's record of 1132 mph (Mach 1.73) in 1956 represented the biggest percentage increase in the history of airspeed records.
@@chrisscott4896- Thanks for sharing that info Chris👍 👍
@@K-P0G-Benn My pleasure, Sir.
I was barely 10 years old when Peter Twiss recorded 1132 mph in the Fairey Delta 2, which was much later fitted with a modified wing as part of the Concorde research programme. "1132" is a number permanently imprinted in the minds of the air-minded children of 1956.
Mike Lithgow had been a Fleet Air Arm, Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bomber pilot involved in the hunt and eventual demise of the German pocket-battleship Bismarck in 1941. Later, his career as a test pilot with Supermarine - which, as you probably know, later merged with Vickers Armstrong and eventually became part of BAC (now BAE Systems) - led to an autobiography entitled "Mach One".
By 1963, Lithgow was flight testing the prototype BAC 1-11 airliner. The "One-Eleven" was the first of three short-haul, two-crew jet airliners launched in the 1960s, preceding the DC-9 and the B737. It had a T-tail configuration and rear-mounted engines. While Lithgow was assessing its low-speed handling, the aircraft entered a deep stall from which it did not recover, killing all on board.
That accident led to a modification of the BAC 1-11 wing leading-edge and the installation of a "stall identification" system with a powerful stick-pusher and auto-ignition (to counter possible engine flameout at high angles of attack). The system was also mandated on the two other contemporary British airliner types with T-tails and rear-mounted engines: Hawker Siddeley Trident and Vickers VC10.The One Eleven went on to sell quite well in the U.S. after being launched in the UK by British United Airways.
One of your BEST documentaries, THANK YOU!
The front photo at the start of the film is a Hunter of The Sultan Of Oman's Air Force taken at Thumrait 1989-90. I was there when it was taken and knew the photographer, I have a print of this and another from the side, it was an RAF instructor pilot who was flying and think I knew who it was.
I was based at Thumrait in 2002-03. The Hunters had been replaced by Jaguars by then. In November 02 the Remembrance Day Service was overflown by one. Not as low as that though.
@@iainstewart9844 The 6 Sqn Hunters were replaced by the Hawk 100s and 200s when I was there in the mid-90s, although you are correct that Thumrait became a Jag-only base at that time, and the Hawks were based on Masirah. Some of the Hunters were sent to be gate guardians etc, and then were quickly recalled and refitted as the Hawks were delayed, it was your typical military balls up haha.
Likewise I think I know the lad who took the picture, an armourer if I recall correctly. Got some great shots of Jags beating up the HAS site as well as a big print of that thumbnail photo.
I still work on Avon engines, albeit the industrial version. Avons in one form or another are approaching 80 years since first designed, with new developments still being made. Shows the strength of the original concept.
@@sennen222 Some of those Jag shots are insane.
I'm a vet The greatness.
Of what this man did, brought me to Tears. It was an honor to hear the story.Thank you
My Dad worked on RAF sites across the UK and Europe. His tales of how RAF pilots constantly outflew and out manoeuvred both Amercan and Russian pilot's never ended.
Used to see them flown by Rhodesian Airforce in the 1970s. Beautiful aircraft. They also flew Canberras and Vampires.
Thornhill.
You should be ashamed to admit being there
@@tesmith47 Snowflake spotted.
@@tesmith47 Why ashamed? The Hunter was in service there. The Hunter was also used in a raid into Zambia where they effectively took control of the airspace, there is quite a story to this, Chris Dixon aka 'Green Leader' led the raid in a Hunter. Also I will mention that Ian Smith, despite his questionable politics was during WW2 a RAF fighter pilot. Finally please remember that things are not always simple and straightforward. From an exiled Zimbabwean.
@@tesmith47why would a Rhodesian be ashamed to admit they were a Rhodesian living in Rhodesia?
in 1967 it's understandable that nobody had a camera/phone to record the historic event, It's strange that a still frame of the painting that records the even was never used.
It is a treat to hear about this bird, all who flew and I met, swore by her. Harish Masand mentioned here, too swore. Flying with him has been a pleasure.
Wow! I knew the (other) London Bridge was moved to arizona, but I never knew the Capitol Records building was moved from Hollywood to London! 😂
I just have this huge smile on my face towards the end of the video where he flies through the bridge!
The design and efficiency of these machines are beyond impressive!
Hunter - Still got to be one of the most beautiful airframes ever.
No aircraft does acrobatics, it's aerobatics.
I don't know. Sadly, I've seen 1 or 2 cartwheel...
His reputation might have been tarnished but he became a Legend which is more important
The Hunter has beautiful lines for sure.
The aircraft at 8:51 is a Supermarine Swift and its English Electric Canberra not Electric Canberra.
Possibly the most beautiful aircraft ever built.
There is a certain correctness about the Hunter when you see one in real life. Its impossible to deny. Just the proportions and shape looks so organic.
First time I noticed it uses area ruling, too.
I worked (very briefly) for ATAC here in California who flies Hunters almost daily. I actually worked on the other aircraft there, the F-21 Kfir, but the Hunters were always great to watch. They had a few things that made them much nicer to service than the Kfir, and the pressure fueling system mentioned in the video was one of them. They also mentioned the range issue… which is probably why all of the Hunters I was around carried four drop tanks each.
This aircraft surpassed the spitfire in the annals of history. as a kid, I used to sneak up to the very edge of the runaway to watch these beautiful aircraft take off from Salisbury airport ( New Sarum ) in Rhodesia. Those were good days in the middle of a war,
Hi Trevor, have a look at the latest, ‘fighting men of Rhodesia’. Part 1 and now a part 2. Blessings from Johannesburg.
It really didn't surpass the Spitfire.
Now that is a real Maverick.
Wonderful! I LOVE stories like this good Sir, thank-you so much!
I wasn't aware of Pollock's little escapade and the fairy tale ending brought a huge smile to my lips.
Always liked the Hunter, a very sleek, cool Bird with typical Brit lines... rounded and blended everything! :)
The hunter was perfectly adapted to its use in Switzerland. Fast and highly manuvrable... A nice souvenir to watch this plane in the sky over Switzerland
Ty👍✈️🇳🇿
From NZ, great synopsis nicely put together ... not sure however about the "World War II had just ended" .... the WWII ended nearly quarter of a century prior to this event .... but again, nice post, thanks 🥂
If I'm honest, I wish Hawker had followed the CFE's rexommendation to lemghten the center fuselage, aft or the transport joint, by three feet with the extra length being additional fuel capacity.
@@inominate2024 To be honest very few British people would have any idea about this either and unless they were ever likely to be honoured thus, why on earth should they?
@inominate2024 I said CFE, as in Central Fighter Establishment, not OBE. This American does know the difference.
A longer fuselage would probably have given the plane more stability as well though I don’t know if that was necessary.
@@MrCateagle = Well said ( I'm from London BTW )
That guy 'inominate' is a clown & clearly unable to read = Buy him new glasses for Christmas
Nicely done, and a fitting tribute to not only the aircraft, but all the people who made it possible. Thanks.
🇬🇧England has made some of history's greatest aircraft.🇬🇧
????????????????????????
Including the X-1.......but the Americans won't admit that!
If you cut the front third off the Rockwell B-1 and joined it to the back third, it would look very much like a Hunter.
The video is wrong about the RAF not celebrating it's 50 anniversary. It was held at RAF Abingdon over two days and the managed to get virtually every aeroplane that could fly up into the air including the Hunter. They had a formation of jet provost's spelling out
E 11 R and super sonic flypast by an EE Lightning. I know because I was lucky enough to be there to see it.
War is NEVER COLD!
It was the class aircraft of its time. I like to read a bit about military aircraft. Everything I have read indicated that it was a pilot's aircraft. It handled like a dream and the ground crews loved the fact that it could be easily turned around under combat conditions so the pilot could quickly get back in the fight. Plus it didn't hurt that an Ace pilot helped design the aircraft.
Love the Hunter - beautiful and successful.
Just FYI - the RR Avon Engine was first designed at the end of WW2 undergoing revisions until it first flew in1947. The Metropolitan Vickers F2 - the first practical axial flow British jet engine, was first run in 1941 and flew in 1943. This somewhat negates your comment (2:40ish) about the technology being unthinkable a few years earlier.
i was lucky enough to see 2 hunters take off when i was in the raf in the early 70s its always been a favourite along with the lightning...
Did the bridge guard wet his pants?
Well tower bridge is not that tall... so it surely was amazing....
Saw them in Oman with the Jaguars in the 83-85 time frame. I had come in off of the USS Independence to get the ROE brief. Star Wars canyon! Great fun. I only got to do it twice in an A-7E. These boys were having the time of their life over there! The Brits had a right proper ready room too, alcohol of course! I still have a patch from one of the squadrons there at the time..
He must've seen too many ' barnstorming ' films ! Bravo sir 👍
Small correction - Duke was awarded the OBE, not a knighthood. A knighthood is a much rarer honour.
Not if you have money, or even a certain level of "Fame"!
It lost its "shine" when the Thatcher Tories started handing it out to "Party Donors"! 🥳
...
@@K-P0G-Benn I agree. I have an uncle who effectively bought himself a K with large donations to the Tories and a couple of ostentatious donations to charity (university buildings that he insisted were named after him) as a gloss to make it seem respectable. But the fact remains, there are 10 OBEs awarded for each knighthood.
19 yrs old.
Fying one of those! That is more than luck. Amazing accomplishment.
In the 1970s I was a young avionics engineer working on Buccaneer instrumentation. One day I got a call to check out a visiting aircraft with the same avionics fit and that was a 2 seat T bird Hunter that had been equipped as a Buccaneer trainer aircraft. The aircraft looked so sleek compared to the Buccaneer :)
Excellent presentation, thank you!
The Hawker Hunter, the only swept wing jet aircraft cleared to perform an inverted spin. There is a photograph of one, I believe in Oman, flying through a hangar. We have the first Hunter to fly the North Atlantic in our collection. Ex Danish Airforce, Ex Royal Navy, then on DACT work in California. Now retired but potentially capable of return to flight status.
Really enjoyed the video and history lesson. I have some great photos of hunters that I found back in my years of urbex. It was amazing to find the planes stood abandoned amongst many other planes from the era. Sadly all now gone, likely scraped
"1962, World War 2 had just ended" LMAO
They mention in an earlier part (around the 2:00 mark) the WW2 reference at the correct timeframe.
As we get further away from the Second World War, the elapsed 20 years mentioned in the film seems to be getting closer. Without wishing to start a discussion on the space time continuum 😜
As a boy, the 'Black Arrows' would thunder at tree top height over my grand mothers house. No way would that be allowed now.🙃
One of the better videos in this sometimes flawed series
What an amazing story.
Hawker Hunter......the most graceful fighter jet ever.
I hope India had a backup plan. All that Soviet/Russian gear? No replacement parts and it’s getting humiliated by secondhand NATO gear in Ukraine.
Not only second hand but second or third line 30+ year old standards. Old block 50 F-16. Old missiles (some newer GPS rockets) but yes, mostly old gear. Nice thing is there are PLENTY of spare parts and frames.
Yes, humiliated. Obviously, you two drink the same koolaid and smoke the same copium. NATO is having it's hat handed to them.
?? Who's getting humiliated? Is NATO winning? I haven't noticed that.
@ NATO isn’t even in Ukraine. Our old equipment is wiping the floor with Russian equipment. How many years is Russia into its “Three day special military operation”?
Holy shit, you actually used my photograph for the thumbnail!!!
Excellent video :)
Great video on a great airplane. I assembled a FROG plastic model of it whilst a kid in Essex, UK as a USAF brat in the 1950s.
My Dad was the crew chief to the squadron commander's F-100D at RAF Wethersfield during the 1956 Suez Crisis and Hungarian Revolution. His plane was the North American F-100D Super Sabre. I wonder how it compared with the Hawker Hunter?
You could fit guided missiles to a sabre so it wouldn't be too good a match as hunters were designed so early on (considered the first 1st generation fighter jet), missiles weren't even considered at the time, you could only fit ballistic rockets. But in terms of flight characteristics and handling the hunter was/is amazing from all accounts.
When my Dad was stationed in England in 1963, both the U2 and the SR71 flew out of the base. They always came and went on moonless or cloudy nights. Secrecy surrounded these movements, of course, but both aircraft used a runway that passed right over base housing. The SR71 made its takeoffs in full burner so as to prevent anyone but personnel getting a good look at it, I suppose. The damn thing rattled every window in the area on takeoff. Everyone got woke up. one ever saw it but we often got awakened in the wee hours by the noise. One British pilot had a 2 year old and a baby that were awakened by the noise, and finally, one Hawker Hurricane pilot got tired of getting his babies back to sleep,so one early morning, he figured out the preflight time , thrust some fake orders into his crew chiefs hands, climbed in , and when he heard the SR71's engines light up with their loud pop, he took off, making 4 screaming passes over the base officers housing, blasting a sonic boom only about treetop level. The SR71 crew had to hold at the taxiway entry mark until he got through. Then he let the rumors filter up to command as to why it was done. The stuff lip British brass took the hint, and the SR71s started taking off earlier and in the opposite direction. Dad said he got grounded for a month, but nothing further happened. Message sent and received, but man that Hawker was SCREAMING across the area, with much more noise than the SR71 made!
I think their aerobatic sqn was
'Blue Diamond'. Remember seeing a photo showing 16 doing a formation takeoff 🙏
We need a movie of this Great Man
7:03 Duke's remarkable piloting experience allowed him to change his Hawker hunter into a Jet Provost
Amazing story, very well told. Many thanks.
THAT ladies and gentlemen is how to make a statement.✌️
Must be difficult filling out captchas when you cant tell the difference beween a bridge and a dungeon
As a youngster in the 70's I watched these flying low through a valley into neighboring Mozambique, Canberra's & Vampires also used more or less the same route, my dad was lucky enough to see a Vampire fly beneath the Birchenough bridge once, a feat way deadlier than this,
Some wrong photos, wrong information. But some nice pics at times.
A great story, shame the establishment binned the pilot.
My father was working at Glosters on the G6 project (basically thin winged Javelin and looked a lot like the Mirage) when the government of the day destroyed the British military aero industry, what a mess made by ignorant politicians with maybe orders originating in Moscow ! Strange days indeed.
The story's good, the narration absolutely sucks. All breathy and DRAMATIC with weird cadence.
Are you new here??? That’s how the dude rolls, we are here for it.
349 sq.ft. wings will never lift a 4.4 million pound aircraft.
That's how much the jet cost 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Are you just “shilling”?
I remember them in Gib circa 1970 , i was 5 years old, they were awesome
I worked on them in Gib in the early 70s!
A decent enough video but spoiled by some serious continuity errors and wrong ID of some aircraft. One clip was of a Jet Provost trainer for pete's sake. And the record breaking Hunter that Duke flew was painted bright red and not camouflaged.
And what about the repetition of American street scenes? No wonder they had to search the sky ... London was thousands of miles to the east!
Enjoyed the video, but what was the “wrong place” the speed demon struck? Didn’t he fly exactly where he intended, adding in the Tower Bridge at the end?
It's called a 'clickbait title'
@ Thanks. So in other words he lied for views and money.
Tower Bridge... D O I T ! !
Vertical Stabilizer: "DOH!"
Been there, done that. (under powerlines)
You sir, are the most iconic narrator of aviation history. well done.
How many of his videos did you watch?
At the point in the story where Pollock was "skimming the Thames about to fly through Tower Bridge" the scenery suddenly switches 4,000 miles away to New York with folk gazing at skyscrapers. Very strange.
At 2:31 that's the capital record building in Hollywood, that is one fast plane
There are several Hunters still being flown in California, I believe as training aircraft. I see/find them quite regularly on Flight Radar.
Completely off the point of the video, but why include the sequence with the statue of the lion being carried shoulder-high in a March ? It can only be “Reggie” the mascot of Kings College London. In the 1970s he came out once a year for a rag-week parade. Said to be made of aluminium, by then he’d been filled with concrete to deter theft by rival University College students.
7:03 That's a Jet Provost, not a Hawker Hunter.
Beautiful story.
Its sad that the Hunter is often now remembered first for that awful crash on the A27 at the Shoreham Airshow.