SBSX01 1/72 Omani Hawker Hunter F.73A (Product code: SBSX01)

This aircraft started its life as Hunter F.6 XG237 for Royal Air Force and made its first flight on November 5, 1956. After staying in storage at 5MU and operations with 66 Sqn it was converted to FGA.9 standard and served with 43 Sqn. In January 1968 it was bought back by Hawker Siddeley, given civil registration G-9-268 and than converted to Mk.73A standard. This was the export modification for Jordan, aircraft was delivered there July 22, 1969, well past the Six-Day War. After uneventual service aircraft, registered as 828,become part of the gift, presented by Jordanian King Hussein to his friend Sultan Qaboos of Oman in 1975. The gift was royal indeed - 31 Hunter with complete support equipment and spares. This greatly enhanced strike abilities of Sultan’s Air Force, previously equipped only with BAC 167 Strikemasters -so greatly that it was decided to operate only 16 Hunters and use others as source of spares and as airfield decoys. 828 was one of lucky 16 destined to operate under the same serial with 6 Sqn from newly-built base at Thumrait, yet it seems that there never were more than 12 Hunters in active service.

It's unknown if 828 was used in Dhofar War in 1975 among other ex-Jordanian Hunters, but even if was, it was painted differently. This decal represents aircraft as in November of 1979, when it was photographed by Iain A.Mackay at Muscat air base wearing unique scallop-edged two-tone camouflage.

The exact colors are unknown, it is often stated that these were Extra Dark Sea Grey BS381C:640 and Dark Sea Grey BS381C: 638 but also it could have been some local mix. Good set of photo reference on Omani Hunters could be found at Desert Storm from air modeller’s view site (https://www.dstorm.eu/pages/en/oman/hunter.html), yet there is only one photo of two-grey 828 - but a good one.

After this photo was taken, 828 served for another almost nine years, when, after engine flameout it crashed besides runway at Thumrait August 25, 1988. Pilot, Mui. Tay. Abdul Aziz al-Baluchi successfully ejected and become first Omani national to do so. By the way, Omani Hunters were serviced by British technicians and flown mostly by British ‘exchange’ or contract pilots, Omani started to flew them only in late 1980s.

From the modelling point of view mid-life Hunter Mk.73A is almost identical to a “classic” FGA.9, there is minor difference in placement of antennae and so on. So, any FGA.9 kit will do. Late Mk.73 of the 1980s were updated with chafftflare launchers, LORAN antenna and additional wing pylons with launchers for Sidewinder missiles, but, alas, even if you are ready for some scratchbuilding, national insignias on these aircraft (including 828) were different and this decal is of no use. Yet even without these later additions 828 in its sea livery looks great and, yes, different. Nice choice for extensive weathering and color effects exercise or just simple blitz-bau with minimum masking, how do you think? Anyway, happy modelling!