A painted carved wooden model of a Hawker Hunter in RAF livery with an interesting provenance, circa 1955. The model is mounted on a wood and acrylic stand with engraved plaque and is in original, unrestored condition.
The plaque is engraved: W.J. Charnley Aero. F/J 1943-55
The model was presented to John Charnley (later Sir John) when he left section Aero F/J (Aerodynamics. Flight Jets) of the Royal Aircraft Establishment. John Charnley worked as an aeronautical engineer, beginning his career as a researcher in the 1940s at the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE), Farnborough, where he was assigned to work on testing Britain's first jet aircraft, the Gloster-Whittle E28/39.
Charnley became an expert on high speed flight before moving to lead the RAE Blind Landing Experimental Unit (BLEU), whose work eventually led tothe AUTOLAND systems used to help aircraft automatically land safely in bad weather.
He later moved to managerial roles within the Ministry of Technology and Ministry of Defence (MoD), where his posts included Chief Scientist of the Royal Air Force, and Controller of Research Establishments (MoD).
Dimensions: 58 cm/22⅞ inches (length) x 42.5 cm/16¾ inches (wing span) x 30 cm/11⅞ inches (maximum height on stand).
