Hawker Hunter - Survivor XF995 (ex G-BZSF)
T.8B XF995 - Hawker Hunter Aviation Ltd. (stored), former RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire
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Hunter T.8B XF995 at Scampton, 23rd September 2025; Jake Wallace
XF995 was built as a Hunter F.4 at Blackpool (the 51st F.4 of the sixth production batch of 57 aircraft). She was first flown in July 1956 and delivered to the RAF at No. 33 MU, RAF Lyneham on 20th July 1956. Operated by 247 Squadron and No 229 OCU, she was returned to Hawker Siddeley Aviation in 1963 and converted to a T.8B (one of three) for the Royal Navy. She was later transferred to the RAF and flown by No. 237 OCU for Buccaneer pilot training, and ended her military career as an instructional airframe at RAF Cranwell.
Sold in November 2000 to Chris Perkins, Delta Jets got the job of returning her to the air and did so remarkably quickly, flying her to Kemble in February 2001. In early 2007 she was acquired by Hawker Hunter Aviation (HHA) at RAF Scampton and re-registered as XF995, losing her civilian ID and coming under MoD auspices once more. She was maintained by HHA on behalf of the MoD for several years and operated on various trials and defence simulation work. The aircraft was grounded due to the Shoreham disaster in 2015 and never took to the skies again, leaving her in outside storage. She appears at some point to have had a replacement port wing and other panels fitted from other aircraft. XF955 was de-registered in 2019 and was put on display undercover in the RAF Scampton Heritage Centre.
In 2023, with RAF Scampton closing, the museum sadly closed also. HHA retrieved XF995 from the museum and moved it back with their aircraft. Hawker Hunter Aviation relocated their activities to RAF Leeming, leaving the non-airworthy aircraft at Scampton. Sadly, with the acquisition of the site by the Home Office as an immigration accommodation site, HHA were then effectively kicked out. With no immediate prospects of storage elsewhere and the huge costs of road transport, the decision was made to store the aircraft just outside Scampton's perimeter fence, with the agreement of a local farmer. The aircraft were rolled out onto steel matting at the end of one of the runways, cocooned in plastic wrap, and the site surrounded by secure fencing.
Sadly, the weather, vandals and so-called 'urban explorers' have all done their bit to destroy the protective wrap and even attempt to gain access to the cockpits of the four aircraft here. XF995's cockpit covers have been removed, and the cockpit was at least partially open to the elements when I visited. Although the aircraft and compound can be viewed from nearby roads, please note that the compound and the land they sit on are private.
Sold in November 2000 to Chris Perkins, Delta Jets got the job of returning her to the air and did so remarkably quickly, flying her to Kemble in February 2001. In early 2007 she was acquired by Hawker Hunter Aviation (HHA) at RAF Scampton and re-registered as XF995, losing her civilian ID and coming under MoD auspices once more. She was maintained by HHA on behalf of the MoD for several years and operated on various trials and defence simulation work. The aircraft was grounded due to the Shoreham disaster in 2015 and never took to the skies again, leaving her in outside storage. She appears at some point to have had a replacement port wing and other panels fitted from other aircraft. XF955 was de-registered in 2019 and was put on display undercover in the RAF Scampton Heritage Centre.
In 2023, with RAF Scampton closing, the museum sadly closed also. HHA retrieved XF995 from the museum and moved it back with their aircraft. Hawker Hunter Aviation relocated their activities to RAF Leeming, leaving the non-airworthy aircraft at Scampton. Sadly, with the acquisition of the site by the Home Office as an immigration accommodation site, HHA were then effectively kicked out. With no immediate prospects of storage elsewhere and the huge costs of road transport, the decision was made to store the aircraft just outside Scampton's perimeter fence, with the agreement of a local farmer. The aircraft were rolled out onto steel matting at the end of one of the runways, cocooned in plastic wrap, and the site surrounded by secure fencing.
Sadly, the weather, vandals and so-called 'urban explorers' have all done their bit to destroy the protective wrap and even attempt to gain access to the cockpits of the four aircraft here. XF995's cockpit covers have been removed, and the cockpit was at least partially open to the elements when I visited. Although the aircraft and compound can be viewed from nearby roads, please note that the compound and the land they sit on are private.
Information on this page current as of 24/09/2025, last updated by Damien |
Find other photos of XF995 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net