Hawker Hunter

[jordonj]

Interesting Photograph!

[Hagar]

Interesting Photograph!

Which one? A unique moment in aviation history recorded for posterity or a long-forgotten minor starlet whose main claim to fame was an outsize bosom?

[Felix/FFDS]

Which one? A unique moment in aviation history recorded for posterity or a long-forgotten minor starlet whose main claim to fame was an outsize bosom?

The Duke of Speed, of course.

[mauricegambles]

Hagar , great photos from Tangmere best recent close up of WB188 I've seen.

One question, do you think that the windscreen has been retro modified to the standard type from the pointed streamlined version shown on the record flight?

It certainly seems so from your photos.

Great to see Neville Duke looking so well.

[Hagar]

Hagar , great photos from Tangmere best recent close up of WB188 I've seen.

Thanks Maurice. I have more somewhere. I'll post them in the Photos forum if I can find them. I naturally messed up the photo-opportunity of a lifetime. My childhood hero Neville Duke climbing out of the cockpit with his famous white bone dome under his arm & standing on the ladder in exactly the same pose that was in all the newspapers exactly 50 years earlier.

One question, do you think that the windscreen has been retro modified to the standard type from the pointed streamlined version shown on the record flight?

It certainly seems so from your photos.

I'm sure this is the case. Like the other record-breakers at Tangmere WB188 is on loan from the RAF Museum. I'm sure it was used for testing in many different configurations long after the record had been broken. It's quite likely the modified windscreen didn't survive.

Great to see Neville Duke looking so well.

S/Ldr Duke appears to be in good health & although now in his 80s is still flying regularly in his own aircraft, usually accompanied by his lady wife. He told me he still does the occasional test flight. He is one of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, just as I always imagined him. He is President of the Tangmere Museum & often visits.

[mauricegambles]

Great stuff Hager, thanks.

Forum Members may want to check this site:-

"hunterflyingclub.co.uk"

They have flying WB188 repros in both prototype and record breaking guise.

Their airshow programme will give details of where and when these birds can be seen