Christmas makeover for Hawker Hunter which guards the gates at RAF Halton

A retired Hawker Hunter standing watch at the entrance to RAF Halton has been given a festive makeover for Christmas 2025.

Giant reindeer antlers and an oversized red nose have been added to the vintage jet, transforming the station's gate guardian into a seasonal landmark for those passing the Buckinghamshire base.

The aircraft serves as RAF Halton's gate guardian, a tradition seen across the Armed Forces, where decommissioned aircraft or vehicles are placed at the entrance to military sites.

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In the RAF, gate guardians are often retired fast jets that once defined an era of air power.

The Hawker Hunter entered service in the mid-1950s and became one of the RAF's most successful post-war fighter aircraft, playing a central role during the early Cold War, before later being used for training and secondary duties.

Now permanently grounded, the Hunter at RAF Halton has swapped operational readiness for heritage duty and, once a year, a lighter role as part of the station's Christmas tradition.

The Hawker Hunter entered RAF service in 1954 as the service's standard single-seat fighter and was the first high-speed jet fighter with radar and fully powered flying controls to go into widespread use with the Royal Air Force. 

More than 1,000 Hunters were purchased by the RAF, replacing earlier aircraft such as the Meteor, Sabre and Venom, before newer types, including the Lightning, began to take over frontline air defence duties.

Later versions of the Hunter were adapted for ground-attack and overseas service, and the aircraft remained in operational RAF use until the early 1970s, before continuing in training roles.

The festive decorations will remain in place over Christmas, and locals who want to see the display up close can head to the main gates at RAF Halton, where families with children can stop by and take a look.