Hawker Hunter F.6

[PremiumFuelOnly 1,603]

Aircraft: Hawker Hunter F.6

 

Classification: day-interceptor jet fighter

 

Visuals:

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Description: The definitive variant of the Hawker Hunter - the F.6 - represented the culmination of a series of upgrades and improvements to the basic Hunter airframe in order to improve the type’s performance, reliability, and serviceability in the field.

 

Shortly after initial flight tests were carried out and early production Hunters made it to squadron service, four notable issues with early Hunter prototypes became immediately apparent, and required correction:

1. Inadequate deceleration due to lack of an airbrake on initial prototypes and Mk.1 models.
2. Difficulties with pitch control at high angles of AoA, especially on later models with more powerful engines.
3. Ejection of spent ADEN ammunition casings damaged the fuselage in flight.
4. A low range/operational radius due to insufficient internal fuel capacity.

 

These issues were solved by adding a single ventral airbrake to the Hunter’s fuselage (late production F.1s and later models), dogtooth leading edges on the wings (F.6 and subsequent models), ventral gun blisters to collect spent ammunition casings (F.6 and later variants), and the addition of wet pylons for wing tank fitment  to improve range (F.6 and later models). In addition to the above improvements, the Hunter F.6 saw a significant increase in performance via fitment of the 200 series Avon 203 (RA.28) engine of 10000 lbf thrust.

 

The first prototype F.6 made its first flight from Dunsfold on January 22, 1954, with manufacturing to follow in late ‘55. Production of the Hunter F.6 was carried out at both the Kingston and Coventry factories which had been building previous marks of the Hunter.

 

The Hunter F.6 enjoyed a relatively long service life as a frontline interceptor for a subsonic fighter, with the first squadrons receiving their units in late ‘56 and re-equipment beginning in mid-1963 with the Lightning. Overall, some 19 operational squadrons were equipped with the F.6, and it was operated alongside RAF Gloster Javelins and Supermarine Swifts - although these latter two aircraft were less prevalent in service.

 

The Hunter became a household name primarily due to near-ubiquitous service of the F.6 and its derivatives with foreign operators, which included India, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and Switzerland among many others who operated the type well into the end of the 20th Century.

 

The Hunter F.6 was used as the basis for many future Hunter variants, including the ground-attack FGA.9 and photoreconaissance FR.10. Foreign operators would go on to modify the F.6 to include AAM capability with AIM-9 Sidewinders - something the RAF never carried out due to their plans to re-equip squadrons with the upcoming EE Lightning and the measures undertaken to equip later marks of the Javelin with Firestreaks until those would also be replaced by the Lightning.

 

Fuel and Oil Data:

Internal Fuel Capacity: 392 imperial gallons (252 gallons fuselage, 140 gallons wings)

Oil Capacity: 9.5 pints

 

Engine Data:

Manufacturer: Rolls-Royce

Designation: Avon 203 (RA.28)

Type: axial-flow turbojet

Compressor Stages: 15-stage compressor

Combustion Chamber: cannular

Turbine: 2-stage

Fuel Grade: AVTAG

 

Note: F.6-specific Intermediate and Max Continuous Power thrust levels are currently unknown.

Power Data:

Military Power: 10000 lbf @ 8000 RPM (10 minutes takeoff/combat combined)

Intermediate Power: ? lbf @ 7800 RPM (30 min)

Maximum Continuous Power: ? lbf @ 7600 RPM (unrestricted)

 

Dimensional Data:

Length: 45 ft, 11 in

Height: 13 ft, 2 in

Wing Span: 33 ft, 8 in  

Wing Area: 349 sq. ft (32.42 sq. m)

Wing Loading: 50.6 lbs/sq. ft @ loaded combat weight

 

Weight Data:

Empty Weight: 14122 lbs

Loaded Combat Weight: 17650 lbs

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 24100 lbs

Fuel Weight: 3018 lbs

 

Note: F.6-specific takeoff distance is currently unknown.

General Performance Data:

Max Speed: 620 knots (1150 kph) @ SL

Maximum Rate of Climb @ SL:  17200 ft/min (87.4 m/s)

Power-off, flaps-up Stall Speed: 125 knots (231.5 kph) @ 17000 lbs

Takeoff Distance @ SL: ? ft

Service Ceiling: 50000 ft

 

G-Limitations:
Positive: +7G

Negative: -3.75G

 

Maximum Speeds (clean configuration, loaded combat weight):

At SL: 620 knots (1150 kph)

At 36000 ft: 0.95M (1173.1 kph)

 

Rate of Climb (clean configuration, loaded combat weight):

At SL: 17200 ft/min (87.4 m/s)

 

Time to Altitude (clean configuration, loaded combat weight):

To 45K ft: 7.5 min

 

Armament:

Guns: 4x ADEN 30mm cannon (600 rounds total, 150 RPG max, 120 RPG typically)

Bomb/Rocket/Missile Ordnance:

7400 lb ordnance capacity on 4 hardpoints, containing various combinations of:

• 1000 lb bombs (and smaller capacities)
• SNEB 68mm rockets
• 18-round Matra pods
• SURA rockets

 

Sources:

[1] Pilot’s Notes Hunter F. Mk.6, AP.4347-PN, July 1961

[2] The Hawker Hunter: A Comprehensive Guide by Paul Bradley, SAM Publications © 2009, ISBN: 978-1-9551858-9-2

[3] Warpaint Series No.8: Hawker Hunter by Alan W. Hall, Hall Park Books Limited, ISSN: 1363-0369

[4] Hunter, Aeroguide 9: Hawker Hunter F Mk 6/T Mk 7 by Roger Chesneau, Linewrights LTD © 1985, ISBN: 0-918805-08-2

[5] Profile Publications Number 4: The Hawker Hunter F.6 by Francis K. Mason

[6] Hawker Hunter in action, Aircraft Number 121 Squadron/Signal Publications, ISBN: 0-89747-273-X

[7] Rolls-Royce Avon 200 Series: Recent Developments in a Line of High-performance Turbojets, FLIGHT page 569-570, 11 October 1957 

 

Edited January 29, 2019 by Aquilachrysaetos

[leroyonly 4,310]

Open for discussion. 

[Shuri_96 1,297]

A big +1 from me!

Edited January 28, 2019 by Shuri_96

[patton3333 10]

A huge +1 from me

[dotEXCEL 5,968]

+1

[JGSR 34]

Aquila makes some of the highest quality posts there is. Pls Gaijin, add the Hunter F6.

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,349]

Yes, big yes from me. The Hunter F.1 is already still a potent fighter even with the introduction of supersonic jets, and a much better variant that would go toe to toe with the MiG-19 in top speeds at sea level would be great.

 

And it served many air forces, including my country's, so lots of great historical skins there to come.

 

Spoiler

 

 

Great suggestion. 

Edited January 28, 2019 by EpicBlitzkrieg87

[Sarkelias 94]

That's gonna be a yes from me dawg.

 

The poor Venom needs some help in the top tier ground attack role...

[WhatTheMiG19 0]

Air to Air missile tree. (US) 

Rhodesian Hawker Hunter with AIM-9

 

Swedish Hunters with AIM-9's

Close up of the Swedish Hunter

 

Yes absolutely, since the Javelin is so underpowered.

 

Make the Hunter F6 a plane that goes toe to toe with the MiG-19 and F100. With Sidewinders. 

 

Note : All the planes in the pictures are equipped with AIM-9B's

Here for more info about the seekers:

http://thecombatworkshop.blogspot.com/2016/11/sidewinder-overview-part-i-aim-9b.html?m=1

 

And give the Hunter F6 2-4x AIM-9 Sidewinders.

 

 

Cya! 

Dutch Hunter with AIM-9 Sidewinders. (Left wing) personal Favorite. 

Edited January 30, 2019 by Zarriox

[super_cacti 1,071]

Yes! This should have been added instead of the Javelin if you ask me!

Would love to have this, even if it doesn’t get the Sidewinders.

 

+1!

[Wilhuff_Tarkin_ 467]

+1 Oh god yes !

[Milocat 4,848]

+1 for a better Hunter.  This is a perfect addition now that we have supersonic jets.

[Fa11enPhoenix 1,405]

Absolutely...

 

The only reason we were left with the F.1 was due to the now abandoned 1953 cut off rule. There's really no justifiable reason not to add it now, especially when the UK tree is going to struggle so much at 10.0 having never historically had anything directly comparable to the MiG-19 or F-100. We wont have a level playing field again until the MiG-21, Lightning, F-104 and Mirage III show up, a Hunter F.6 would make things a little less unbalanced but still tipped against the UK tree 

[PaganMin_ 483]

+1

 

Some were armed with AIM-9 Sidewinders.

 

I would also love to see the modified version FGA 9.

[duckmartin 1,889]

+1 would really want to see this in game.

[TerikG2014 1,389]

I recently was in a discussion with a mate about the F.6 and managed to find this photo of the F.6 with it's full lay out. (Note the firestreak and fireflash missiles)

Edited February 11, 2019 by TerikG2014

[TerikG2014 1,389]

Something else interesting I found was that it would appear some hunters were equipped with CRV-7 rockets. So far the only price of evidence I have for this is the fact I think there in the photo above and this article in Flight International. 

1984 - 0245 (1).PDF

[Fa11enPhoenix 1,405]

On 11/02/2019 at 07:22, TerikG2014 said:

I recently was in a discussion with a mate about the F.6 and managed to find this photo of the F.6 with it's full lay out. (Note the firestreak and fireflash missiles)

 

Pretty sure the only Hunters that could carry the Firestreak were the P1109's but they only made two of them. The shot above is likely just an F.6 standing in for an 1109 to go in the sales brochure. Sadly no RAF Hunters ever served operationally with any air to air missiles.

 

On a side note the 1109's only had two guns but also had a search radar fitted. Would have been interesting to see this set up paired with the after-burning engine from the F.3

Edited February 18, 2019 by Fa11enPhoenix

[PremiumFuelOnly 1,603]

8 hours ago, Fa11enPhoenix said:

 

Pretty sure the only Hunters that could carry the Firestreak were the P1109's but they only made two of them. The shot above is likely just an F.6 standing in for an 1109 to go in the sales brochure. Sadly no RAF Hunters ever served operationally with any air to air missiles.

 

On a side note the 1109's only had two guns but also had a search radar fitted. Would have been interesting to see this set up paired with the after-burning engine from the F.3

 

This is correct. RAF F.6s never equipped missiles of any sort, although they were equipped with various types in foreign service. 

[Fa11enPhoenix 1,405]

15 hours ago, Aquilachrysaetos said:

 

This is correct. RAF F.6s never equipped missiles of any sort, although they were equipped with various types in foreign service. 

 

Did a bit of further reading tonight, there actually was a system developed to allow the F.6 to carry the Firestreak however the RAF chose not to order it for several very good reasons: 

 

• The on-board support systems required a lot of space, the solution being to palletise the equipment and fit it to a modified Hunter gun pack.... this necessitated choosing between the missiles and the guns, you couldn't have both.
• The lack of a search radar also limited the capabilities of the Firestreak as they were slaved to the radar on all the aircraft that operated them... not in that they were radar guided but more in that the radar was used to point the seeker head in the right general direction before launch... Radar aimed rather than guided, IE: "when I let you loose go that way and start looking for hot things to break...".
• Last but not least, the Lightning was just around the corner so there wasn't really much point.

[HighDude 121]

SUPPORT FULL SUPPORT. It would be effective against mig19s too

[Z3r0_ 4,127]

I'll support this.  While the Brits were generally lacking particularly good supersonic aircraft prior to the Lightning (and imported F-4 Phantom IIs), they had some really good subsonic planes like the later models of the Hunter and the Folland Gnat.

Edited March 24, 2019 by Z3r0_

[HighDude 121]

On 24/03/2019 at 14:39, Z3r0_ said:

I'll support this.  While the Brits were generally lacking particularly good supersonic aircraft prior to the Lightning (and imported F-4 Phantom IIs), they had some really good subsonic planes like the later models of the Hunter and the Folland Gnat.

what do u think about the supermarine swift?

[kamikazi21358 998]

+1, and all other variants.

[Electrolite_xyz 575]

+1 please Gaijin add an updated Hunter with better performance, would love an export version that could carry missiles