Specialist Computer Centres (SCC)
Tyseley, Birmingham
February 28, 2024 |
A street evening/night shoot of my own, in what was described ludicrously by a politician the day before as a "no-go" area of Birmingham. I must admit I was a little nervous with my very expensive camera and tripod looking like the perfect mugging victim. I did not attract much attention apart from one chap who asked if I was a photographer and proceeded to offer me a job which I declined.
The subject was a former Royal Navy Hawker Hunter PR.11 (WT723 'LM 692'). Delivered to the RAF in 1955 as a Hunter F.4, in 1962 it was converted to GA.11 standard and transferred to the Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Lossiemouth. Two years later it was converted to a PR.11, fitted with three high-quality reconnaissance cameras in the nose. In May 1973 it was transferred to the Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Unit (FRADU) at RNAS Yeovilton where it remained till 1991. From 1993 it was based at RNAS Culdrose as an instructional airframe with the School of Aircraft Handling (SAH), later renamed the School of Flight Deck Operations (SFDO). Here it was maintained in serviceable condition until it was withdrawn from use in 1996. Sold in auction in 1997 it was registered as G-PRII and prepared for display, flying at air shows from 1999 till 2012, during this period it was painted in black as 'XG194' representing 111 Squadron's Black Arrows display team. Curiously seen a few days earlier at the Watisham Station Heritage Museum was the real XG194 a Hunter FGA.9 which is now painted black. WT123 was restored in its current Royal Navy scheme in 2014 and in 2021 was placed on a plinth at the Specialist Computer Centres (SCC) Technology Campus at Tyseley, Birmingham. |
