Ground run of the Hunter J-4007
Since June 10, 1995, the Hunter Association Interlaken (Huver) has been the proud owner of the Hunter single-seater J-4007 (Blue Hunter). One of the association's main goals is to preserve this aircraft for posterity. To achieve this, the technical crew of Kurt Steffen and Ernst Däppen needs to put in 400 to 500 hours per person per year. Res Willener is another specialist in their ranks. These hours are spent on any necessary repairs and functional tests of all systems. Twice a year, there is a reward for all the hard work – a ground run. On October 18, 2025, it was time again for the preservation day. The sound of the starter engine, which uses IPN (rocket fuel) to start the Avon main engine, is unmistakable. Such a static run lasts about 15 minutes. When the engine is shut down, the stopwatch is pressed at the same time. The run-out time is at least 75 seconds. Film report by Urs Stoller