swisshunters.info celebrating the Hawker Hunter Mks58, 58A & TMk68



 
President: Hugo Schranz
Postal Address:  Postfach 23 3772 St Stephan Switzerland
email:  hunterverein@hunterverein.ch
Web site:  www.hunterverein.ch
PR: Susanne & Theo Matti
In 1994 Hunterverein Obersimmental was formed under the patronage of four districts of the Obersimmental region in the Bernese Oberland, with the sole aim of preserving Hunter J-4040 in flying condition.
J-4040 had been given its unique paint scheme in 1993 while nearing the end of its service life with Fliegerstaffel 15 at St Stephan, the work being done at Interlaken by members of maintenance unit Fliegerkorps 18 under the guidance of Corporal François Bértherin. Thereafter known as Papyrus and displaying the symbolic serial J-4015, the aircraft was saved from the scrapyard and began its painstaking journey back to full serviceability.

At St Stephan on 18th August 2000 Papyrus flew again for Hunterverein Obersimmental, after more years of dedicated and focused preparation by technicians Andreas Willener, Peter Gerber and Albert Brügger. After this initial test flight (with Hans Peter Reusser at the controls) she was flown in public at the Hunterfest the following day by the last (and 15th!) Commandant of Fliegerstaffel 15, Ueli Leutert.
During 2001 the aircraft was invited to Kemble for the Hunter 50th celebrations in July, and also the large Display at RAF Cottesmore a week later. She then took part in the Hunterfest at St Stephan in August.
Papyrus is currently undergoing maintenance, and we look forward to seeing her again in 2004... that year is also the tenth anniversary of HV Obersimmental.
 
Pictures courtesy of HV Obersimmental...
many more at  www.hunterverein.ch
Papyrus   click to enlarge (67kb)
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Papyrus+people   click to enlarge (69kb)
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Papyrus   click to enlarge (69kb)
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AUGUST 2004:  PAPYRUS FLIES AGAIN! After years of intensive & dedicated maintenance, Papyrus flew again in the early summer. She displayed at Berner Aero Club's Internationale Belpmoostage at Belp on July 26th & 27th, and then at HV Obersimmental's Hunterfest at St Stephan on 21st August. Pictures from the Hunterfest can be seen at www.hunterverein.ch


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Copyright Gordon Williams 2002-2004 all rights reserved
Last revised September 10th, 2004
For more information, contact gmw@meadowside.fsnet.co.uk
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