Early jet planes that are some of the most historic in aviation history spotted rotting on an English farm
Published on Apr 19, 2026 at 6:44 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Apr 19, 2026 at 6:44 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A photographer managed to find something incredible after spotting a collection of five early jet planes rotting on an English farm, with all being rare and historic artefacts.
These amazing jets were parked at Baker’s Hill Farm, located in Birlingham in the United Kingdom, and were acquired by Graham Revill.
Revill saved the jets to prevent them from being scrapped, but over the years, nature encroached on them, and they risked being scrapped once again.
However, collective efforts in 2024 and 2025 saved all of them, with each one eventually ending up at a new home.
This is what featured in the jet plane collection
All five planes were early British jets built not long after World War II.
They were Hawker Hunter F.6 XF526, Hawker Sea Hawk FB.5 WF299, Gloster Meteor T.7 WH166, Hunting Jet Provost T.3 XN632, and de Havilland Vampire T.11 WZ245.
All of the jets were acquired by Revill in 1990 and then sat on his farm.
Instagram images from 2025 taken from above showed the jets parked in the English countryside.
Over the years, the early jet planes‘ paintwork faded, nature started to grow over them, and corrosion had begun to set in.
Amazingly, a group of aviation enthusiasts was able to come together and help them find new homes.
Julian Millington of the Chetton Heritage Museum, that bough the Jet Provost, explained what happened.
“All of them were at risk of being scrapped around the end of 2024,” said Millington
“That was until Aviation Heritage UK project officer, Barry Love, managed to save all of the aircraft after launching a popular Facebook campaign with a GoFundMe account to raise the required funds.”
Mike Eastman of the Aircraft Restoration Group, who bought the Hunter, added more info.
“Now getting on in years, the farmer agreed the aircraft could go to a new home,
An agreement was reached on a figure to release all the aircraft,” he told Supercar Blondie.
This is what happened to the early British jet planes
Four out of the five early jet planes had very happy endings to their story.
The Hawker Hunter was moved to Fishburn Airfield in County Durham and is being restored by volunteers from the Aircraft Restoration Group.
“Our Hawker Hunter XF526 spent over thirty years in a Bramble hedge on a farmer’s yard along with four other aircraft,” Eastman told Supercar Blondie.
“The Hunter came up to our base at Fishburn Airfield, County Durham,
“XF526 came to us in the remains of 4fts colours.
After many months, the aircraft fuselage was rolled out two weeks ago and reunited with its wings,” he added
The Sea Hawk is now at the East Midlands Aeropark and is being restored in their restoration hangar.
Located at East Midlands Airport, the aeropark is home to other British jets like the Avro Vulcan.
Meanwhile, the Jet Provost has moved to the Chetton Heritage Museum in Shropshire, again for full restoration.
“The airframe is now owned by the museum and is being restored as an outdoor exhibit by a number of volunteers,” Millington told Supercar Blondie.
Millington also gave us an update on its condition as of April 2026.
“All paint has been removed from the airframe, ready for final assembly of some of the cowlings. Then we can set about filling in any holes or dents, and then painting,” he said.
Finally, the Meteor is at the RAF Manston History Museum, Kent, and it too is being restored.
One of the jet planes wasn’t fit for restoration
The Vampire T.11 WZ245, however, was in very poor condition after its years of neglect.
This jet was bought by The Vampire Project, and its parts will be used to assist with other Vampire aircraft.
However, that is still a much better fate than being cut up and turned into razor blades.
What is truly remarkable is that all these early jet planes found new homes, with four set to be fully restored as museum exhibits.
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
