Hawker Hunter T.7
Hawker Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1955 · fighter
The Hunter T.7 is the two-seat tandem trainer variant of the Hunter, with a widened nose and extended canopy to accommodate instructor and pupil side-by-side in tandem.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Widened forward fuselage with side-by-side tandem canopy seating two crew under a longer, bulged hood |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Widened forward fuselage with side-by-side tandem canopy seating two crew under a longer, bulged hood
- No gun pack belly fairing — the four-cannon nose installation and detachable pack are omitted on most T.7 airframes
- Two separate canopy sections with a distinct raised rear section for the instructor behind the pilot
Told immediately from the single-seat Hunter F.6 by the noticeably wider forward fuselage housing the tandem cockpit and the longer two-section canopy. The belly is clean without the gun-pack bulge of the F.6, and the nose profile appears blunter.
Specifications
- The Hawker Hunter T.7 has a length of 15.43 m (51 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.26 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1150 km/h (715 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flying in July 1955, the T.7 was developed to provide an advanced trainer matching the handling of the single-seat Hunter while giving the instructor a proper forward view. The nose was widened to accept two Martin-Baker Mk 4H ejection seats, and most examples omitted the gun installation. The T.7 served both the RAF and the Royal Navy, where it was designated T.8.
Variants
The T.7 served the RAF and several export operators; the Royal Navy's T.8 was equipped with a modified airbrake and arrestor hook for simulated deck landings. The T.66 and T.67 were export two-seaters for India and Switzerland respectively.
Where you'll see it
RAF Hunter T.7s served as advanced jet trainers and weapons instruction aircraft until replaced by the Hawk in the late 1970s. Several T.7s survive in airworthy condition with civilian operators and the Hunter Flying Club at Exeter, appearing regularly at UK airshows.
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