BBC - Brian Cox flying in a Hunter

[55allgold]

In the Beeb's universe programme thingy, I just saw Cox getting a passenger flight in a Hawker Hunter (T7 presumably). They went inverted at altitude and (allegedly) supersonic.

Now, I know that you can (or could) buy this sort of jolly somewhere in South Africa, but I missed out on where it was that he did this. Anyone know? Anyone know of a European location?

(A Hawker Hunter fan writes)

[johnnyreggae]

Maybe it was one of the ones operated by Deltajets out of Kemble - I think CAA are not too keen on licensing commercial use however

Edited by johnnyreggae on Wednesday 30th March 11:59

[ShredderXLE]

There used to be a two seat hunter that regularly flew from North Weald airfield. I remember the organisation that owned it used to advertise for flights in it but the cost was in excess of £1.5k for about 20 mins.

[magpie215]

it was one of the aircraft from the linked company

http://www.hunterteam.com/main.htm

[55allgold]

Thanks all. Seems it's 4000+ euro for Switzerland: http://old.migflug.com/1/flight-programs/flights-s...

HHA is rather more serious It certainly doesn't list 'jollies'

Deltajets doesn't even have anything beyond a home page with photos of some Hunters (including Miss Demeanour, which I saw in a show at Bentwaters last year).

Meanwhile for a few dollars more, there's a Hunter for sale at just $250,000 here: http://www.hunterflight.com/ (no longer doing flights in Oz)

So it's time to start doing the lottery...

(I wouldn't mind but my Mum got to fly a Herc and steer a submarine for free!)

[Fat Albert]

Theer was a Hunter F6 for sale a couple of years ago where the price kept dropping until it was around the £30-40k mark, obviously the running costs and the route to conversion probably put a lot of people off

[FourWheelDrift]

Fat Albert said:

Theer was a Hunter F6 for sale a couple of years ago where the price kept dropping until it was around the £30-40k mark, obviously the running costs and the route to conversion probably put a lot of people off

That was the ex-Spencer Flack G-HUNT that went over to the US, last price I think I saw was $25,000 for it. Badly corroded wing though.

[55allgold]

A propos of nothing, I've just remembered that there's a town (in Surrey, I think) that has a 'Hunter on a stick' displayed in some back road near the town cetre. Must try and find it on Street View...

[Eric Mc]

Woking.

[55allgold]

Eric Mc said:

Woking.

Thanks Eric. Hope it's still there.

[Eric Mc]

Was last time I was there (September).

[Fat Albert]

There used to be one on top of a storage place on the A4 near to Hangar Lane Gyratory too!

[FourWheelDrift]

Woking Hunter - http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...

[moribund]

Is he on a tour of classic jets at license payers expense? He's already been to 60,000ft and supersonic in a Lightning in SA for another series too! Jammy git.

[magpie215]

moribund said:

Is he on a tour of classic jets at license payers expense? He's already been to 60,000ft and supersonic in a Lightning in SA for another series too! Jammy git.

Agree he does seem to be doing most of the things on my wish list.

lightning
vomit comet 0G
Hunter.

If he goes up in a Buccaneer next I think I really want to be him :-)

[Eric Mc]

Lots of TV presenter get fast jet rides - Clarkson F-15, May - U2. Even Willie Carson got a ride with the Red Arrows.

[AllezWasps]

55allgold said:

In the Beeb's universe programme thingy, I just saw Cox getting a passenger flight in a Hawker Hunter (T7 presumably). They went inverted at altitude and (allegedly) supersonic.

Now, I know that you can (or could) buy this sort of jolly somewhere in South Africa, but I missed out on where it was that he did this. Anyone know? Anyone know of a European location?

(A Hawker Hunter fan writes)

I would imagine he was flying out of Cape Town at ThunderCity. ThunderCity was a company owned and run by a chap called Mike Beachy Head, whereby if you stumped up enough cash you could go for a flight in a Hunter, Buccaneer or an English Electric Lightning. Unfortunately, ThunderCity wound up operations last year as a result of a number of factors, not least the current economic climate.

[Mojocvh]

Eric Mc said:

Lots of TV presenter get fast jet rides - Clarkson F-15, May - U2. Even Willie Carson got a ride with the Red Arrows.

He was the only one that would fit in a gnat.

OKOK, I know it's the wrong timeline but it's a lauff......