WB188 set a new absolute world airspeed record of 727.63 mph in the hands of Neville Duke flying from Tangmere on 7 September 1953.

There would be three Hunter prototypes build but the very first was WB188, the real prototype. It's first flight was on 20 July 1951 at Boscombe Down. Later this one would be rebuild as the Hunter Mk.3 which was used for some speed records. It survives in this form at the museum at Tangmere, Sussex. Ministry of supply photo, ref. no. 2130/C, crown copyright.

The first Hunter prototype, flown by Sqn Ldr Neville Duke to set a new World's Absolute Speed Record of 727.6 mph on 7 September 1953. It became RAF Melksham's gate guard as 7154M by 1961 until the base closed in 1965, then stored at Colerne and Cosford. Now on display at Tangmere Museum, West Sussex.

This is ex G-BZPB and its real serial is WV256. Moved from Coventry to Newquay on 11 July 2012, and following the demise of Classic Air Force moved to Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre for continued preservation. Seen here with the markings applied at Coventry to advertise Airbase and the DC-6 diner.

Thought this would be a nice festive touch for Christmas 2020 as a thankyou to the "Crew" and all of the contributing photographers. Aircraft is really XF300, then G-BZPC. The real WB188 was at RAF Melksham(12 School of Technical Training) as a gate guard during the late 50's until the closure of the station in 1964. Neat touch with a red light in the tailpipe! Delivered out on 7th July 2017

This really is the former G-BZPC and XF300. No longer current at this location having moved to Kent in August 2017.

The aircraft that Neville Duke flew at 727.6 mph on Sept 7, 1953 setting a world air speed record.

Various Hunters have masqueraded as Neville Duke's unique record-breaking Mk.3 WB188 over the years, but here is the real thing in which he secured the world air speed record of 727.63 mph on 7th September 1953, taking off from Tangmere and flying a course between Bognor and Littlehampton. Just a month later, WB188 came to the end of its flying life and became an instructional airframe at Halton, later serving as gate guard at Melksham and Abingdon from 1961 to 1964 and displayed at Colerne until 1975, when moved to the RAF Museum at Cosford. Loaned, appropriately, to Tangmere since 1992.

The original Hunter prototype as modified for the flight in which it set a world speed record of 727.6 mph on 7 September 1953.

Squadron Leader Neville Duke's world record breaking Hunter F.3 with its unique pointed nose and distinctive overall red scheme. He reached 727.6 mph in the aircraft in 1953. It was brought by road to the 1976 IAT and exhibited in a place of honour in front of a line of operational RAF Hunters.

This really is WV256 and is ex G-BZPB. Now positioned as a gate guardian for the CVT West facility. The port side has ads for the DC-6 Diner at Airbase but was unshootable due to the fence.

This is a very famous aircraft which held the world speed record at 727.6 mph in 1953. This has resulted in several other aircraft carrying the same serial, though this aircraft, on loan from the RAF Museum, is the genuine one