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Bristol Beaufighter Mk X

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1944-1950, London, Hangar Three/Four, London, Hangar Three/Four, 74/A/13

The prototype flew on 17 July 1939 and the first production Beaufighters were delivered to the Royal Air Force in the following April. The type was the first high performance night fighter equipped with airborne interception radar and successfully operated against the German night raids in the winter of 1940-1941. Later the Beaufighter was introduced into Coastal Command as a strike fighter. Its original formidable gun armament was retained but rockets and torpedoes were added giving it an even greater fire power.

Grey/green camouflaged aircraft with black and white D-day invasion stripes, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / (c) RAF Museum/ Iain Duncan

Hawker Hunter FGA9

Aircraft & Exhibits, OCT 1956-OCT 1985, London, Hangar Three/Four, 1990/0698/A

The Hunter was the first high-speed jet fighter with radar and fully-powered flying controls to go into widespread service with the Royal Air Force. It was one of the most successful of the British post-war jet fighters; over 1000 were purchased by the Royal Air Force. Entering service in July 1954 it became the Royal Air Force’s standard single-seat fighter, replacing Meteor, Sabre and Venom aircraft. From 1960 Lightnings began to supersede the Hunter in Fighter Command.

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