A classic British fighter Hawker Hunter that once belonged to Embraer is among the dozens of military aircraft on display at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT). Embraer itself is participating in the traditional air show held in the United Kingdom, with the KC-390 of the Brazilian Air Force and an A-29B Super Tucano.
The plane is a two-seat Hunter T.72, which for 17 years was used by Embraer with the prefix PP-XHH. The aircraft served the Brazilian company as a chase plane, accompanying planes manufactured by Embraer on test flights.
The aircraft arrived at the RAF Fairford base, where the event takes place, on Friday (15). The Hunter, however, will not make in-flight presentations: the fighter manufactured in 1955 will remain on static display, representing its current owner, Hawker Hunter Aviation Ltd. (HHA).
The aircraft was based at Embraer's facilities in Gavião Peixoto (SP).
Embraer bought the Hunter in 2001, when it still belonged to the Chilean Air Force. The plane was in service in that country from 1971 until mid-1995, when it was retired and put into storage.
In 2018, Embraer said goodbye to its Hunter. The British jet was sold to HHA, a British company that provides air combat training, aerial target towing, threat simulation and services.
Today, the former PP-XHH bears the military registration number XE688, but retains the old paint job used in its Embraer days, with the company's stylized logo on the tail. The Brazilian brands share space with the RAF headdress, identifying that the plane is being used again in its country of origin.
plane details
The Hawker Hunter is a fighter developed by Hawker Aircraft in England between the 1940s and 50s. The aircraft has a Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet and, depending on the variant, can exceed 1000 km/h, reaching supersonic speeds in a dive. In addition, it has four 30mm ADEN cannons and the capacity to carry more than 3 tons of bombs and rockets.
About 1972 Hunter fighters have been produced since 1954 and the model has been in operation in Chile, England, Sweden, Iraq and 18 other nations.
