Hunter T.8 XF358 damaged in the air, landed at Driffield airfield.
On 7th September 1961 Hunter XF358, of Aircraft Holding Unit, of the Fleet Air Arm and based at Lossiemouth was being flown on a transit flight from there to
join the Station Flight, Yeovilton, when the crew declared an unspecified emergency and made a precautionary landing at Driffield. What actually occurred is not clear.
Very minor Cat.SS damage resulted.
Pilot - Lt. W W Foote USN.
Pilot - Cdr C A Brown RN.
Hunter XF358 was built to contract 6/Acft/9817 by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. at Blackpool and was initially taken on charge by 112 Squadron at Bruggen (date unknown). It then
went into storage on or around 31st May 1957 when the unit disbanded. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Ltd. at Bitteswell converted it to a T.8 variant for the Royal Navy. On
21st July 1959 it wen to Aircraft Hold Unit Lossiemouth. On 28th March 1961 it went to Hawker Aircraft Ltd. at Dunsfold then on 12th July 1961 it returned to A.H.U.
at Lossiemouth. On 7th September 1961 minor Cat.SS damage resulted following the landing at Driffield and it was almost certainly repaired on site. On 13th September
1961 it was taken on charge by Station Flight at Yeovilton. On 4th November 1961 it was returned to A.H.U. at Lossiemouth but five days later it went to St. Athan. On to
A.H.U. at Tengah. On 26th July 1963 minor Cat.SS resulted when the port undercarriage refused to raise. On 9th October 1963 Cat.SS damage resulted when the port tyre
tread stripped off on take off though it later landed safely after burning off fuel. On 29th October 1964 Cat.LQ damage resulted when it swung off a taxiway and the
nose wheel went down a monsoon drain. Each time this saw a repair on site made. On 8th March 1965 it was allocated for return to UK. On 1st May 1965 it went to R.N.A.Y.
Belfast for modifications. On 17th January 1966 it was taken on charge by 759 Squadron at Brawdy. On 25th July 1966 Cat.LC damage occurred when, during a ground run a
panel detached and the engine ingested a cable hook. On 26th July 1966 it went to N.A.S.U. at Brawdy where it was converted to T.8C variant. On 12th December 1966 it
returned to 759 Squadron at Brawdy. On 23rd June 1967 it made a heavy landing while being flown on circuit training exercise at Llanbedr and on return to Brawdy it
was found to have sustained Cat.HC damage. On 14th July 1967 it went to N.A.S.U. at Brawdy for repair then returned to 759 Squadron on 23rd January 1968. On 23rd
February 1968 it damaged an elevator when it was being towed into a hanger Brawdy, Cat.LQ damage resulted and it was repaired on site. On 29th May 1968 Cat.SS damage
occurred when the tacho generator disconnected. On 1st May 1969 it was transferred to Heron Flight / F.O.N.F.T. at Yeovilton. On 31st July 1970 it went to 5 MU at
Kemble for modifications and storage. On 28th September 1976 it was taken on charge by F.R.A.D.U. at Yeovilton. Over the next few years it went to 5 MU at Kemble for
modifications several times with it being returned to F.R.A.D.U. each time. At Yeovilton on 21st February 1990 part of the port main undercarriage leg sheared
(on take off?) and while the pilot able to land safely damage had already been sustained. It was repaired on site and then on 7th November 1990 it went to Lovaux Ltd.
at Hurn for servicing. On 7th December 1990 it was returned to F.R.A.D.U. charge but the records state it was not flown after February 1992. On 12th June 1995 it went
to 27 MU at Shawbury for storage. On 16th March 1998 it was taken by road to D.E.R.A. at Boscombe Down then in 2001 it went to QinetiQ Apprentice School
at Boscombe Down. After this nothing more of the aircraft is known.