Defense News reported that Canadian company Lortie Aviation is entering negotiations to buy five of Lebanon’s Hawker Hunter fighter jets after the Ministry of National Defense held three auctions for the aircraft. Lortie Aviation was the only bidder for the Hawker Hunters in the third auction that was held Aug. 12. The parties involved will now negotiate a price and is expected to be worth about $1 million. The ministry authorized the Lebanese Armed Forces to issue an agreement of consent with the Canadian firm for the sale of the five Hawker Hunters and spare parts.
Lortie Aviation Inc, renowned for its tactical combat training for Armed Forces of Canada, France and The United States from its 18 modified and upgraded Hawker Hunters, originally developed for The Royal Air Force during the 1940’s and early 1950’s. This unique fleet of single seat aircraft have conducted over 31,000 flying hours since 2002 and aims to actively reduce the operation of military aircraft. Lortie Aviation Inc is located in Ste-Catherine-de-la-J-Cartier, QC, Canada and is part of the Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Repair and Maintenance Industry.
Lortie Aviation Inc operate specially-modified and upgraded former Swiss Air Force F.58 Hunter Aircraft. This model served in Switzerland from 1960 through 1996. Due to the nature of Swiss Air Force operations and the small size of the country, these aircraft have acquired a remarkably low number of flying hours for their age. The F.58 is the export version of the Mark 6 Hawker Hunter that was operated by Royal Air Force. It is a single seat fighter with hydraulically operated flight controls and a Rolls Royce Avon 200 series axial flow gas turbine engine developing 10150 pounds of static thrust.
The Hawker Hunter is a transonic British jet-powered fighter aircraft that was developed by Hawker Aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It was designed to take advantage of the newly developed Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engine and the swept wing, and was the first jet-powered aircraft produced by Hawker to be procured by the RAF. The Hunter saw combat service in a range of conflicts with several operators. Overall, 1,972 Hunters were manufactured by Hawker Aircraft and its successor, Hawker Siddeley, as well as being produced under licence overseas.
