The first of three of this rocket and jet-powered research supersonic aircraft that were built. First flew as 37973 in 1947. To NACA as NACA 143. Retired in 1957. Preserved at the Planes of Fame Air Museum by 1984.

XE612 was written off in an aborted take-off accident at RAF Horsham St Faith (now Norwich Airport) on 17th May 1960. The aircraft burned out but the cockpit section (shown in this image) was subsequently obtained and restored privately, being converted to a flight simulator.

Under restoration with wingtips and rudder removed

Unfortunately the F11 Museum at ESKN was closed at the time of my visit. I only got to see this Draken as it is the single outside exhibit.

This aircraft has been fitted with under wing pylons for Shrike missiles / ECM jamming pods as used in the Falklands conflict. These are visible outboard of the main gear doors. XM612 was involved in the Falklands operations but did not perform shrike missions. In fact it never went beyond Ascension Island having been slated as a back up aircraft on a number of missions. Also of note is the 1000 gallon auxiliary fuel tank which is sitting under the starboard wing. This could be installed in the bomb-bay to extend operational range at the expense of some bomb load.

Preserved at City of Norwich Aviation Museum having previously been operated by Certerline Aerospace from both Norwich and Old Buckenham.

This image shows the pilot and co-pilot positions as well as the Flight Engineer's station (on the right). The museum offer guided tours of this aircraft subject to volunteer availability.

Carries small "White Elephant Safari" titles above the centre window on each side of the fuselage.

The identity of this aircraft is complex. It is a composite airframe consisting of the fuselage of Ex Saudi F53 53-686 with the wings of 53-700. The port side is in Saudi Air Force markings with the "correct" serial number 53-686. The starboard side is in RAF 74 Squadron markings as XR768 / A. However these same markings had also been applied to a totally different F53 (53-672). The aircraft pictured had also previously had the genuine UK military serial ZF592 and the UK civil registration G-AWON, which it wore prior to original delivery to Saudi Arabia.

Still here but the markings are now quite faded.

MM53-3200 repainted in 2021 to celebrate the 60 years from the Kindu's massacre, occurred in Congo during a peaceful ONU mission. Two Italian C-119Gs (radiocalls "Lyra 5" and "Lupo 33") landed on 11 November 1961, to deliver material to the local ONU's unit. Both crews (13 airmen) were imprisoned by the rebels of the Congolese National Army and then all killed on the same day. Their bodies were recovered and taken back to Italy on 11 March 1962. A Sacrarium were the crews' bodies were buried, is "watched" by this aircraft, who is painted on the opposite side with 46-33 code and 26049 serial (Lupo 33)

This Jaguar was built as a T.2 and was TOC with the RAF in June 1974, but later converted to a T.2A and transferred to ETPS at RAE Boscombe Down (EGDM). The plane was SOC in 1976 used for ground instruction at RAF Cranwell (EGYD) before arriving at the Cold War Jets collection at Bruntingthorpe and then to the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering at RAF Cosford (EGWC). It came to the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection at EGLS in August 2023.

This Hunter was TOC by the RAF in August 1955 and later became G-BUEZ. This registration was cancelled in August 2001 and it came to the museum for preservation in 2007.