Built as an F.Mk.IV and first flown in 1955, WV383 was damaged in a wheels-up landing in 1956. After repair it was returned to the manufacturere for conversion to a T.Mk.7. It was returned to the RAF in 1959 and served with 79 and 4 Squadrons in West Germany, followed by 28 and 20 Squadrons in the Far East, before going into storage for a period. It was then issued to RAE Farnborough in 1971.

Two years later it went to Cranfield and was fitted with twin Head-Up Displays (HUDs) and a TV camera in the nose as part of trials to investigate the feasibility of pilots flying using a TV image of the outside world. By 1975 it was also using low light TV cameras, and continued night vision trials into the
1980s using Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) and Night Vision Goggles (NVGs). It was during these trials that it gained its name painted on the nose: Hecate – Lady of the Night.

Last flown in 1998, QinetiQ (the successors to RAE) donated it to FAST, the aircraft being transported and placed in storage at Farnborough in 2000. It was later reassembled and has been a part of our static aircraft display since 2002.

Technical Specifications

Crew : 2
Length : 13.98m (45ft 10in)
Wingspan : 10.26m (33ft 8in)
Height : 4.01m (13ft 2in)
Engine : Single Rolls-Royce Avon Mk 122
Thrust : 45.13kN (10,145 lbf)
Maximum Speed : 1,003km/h (623mph) at 36,000 ft
Service Ceiling : 15,240m (50,000ft)
Empty Weight : 6,406kg (14,122lb)
Loaded Weight : 8,051kg (17,750lb)
Range : 620km (385 miles)