It was a world away from how the jet was first moved to its Raymond Terrace location in the 1980s by the town's Lions Club.

Using the Hunter Water Board land as a back road, that relocation operation included just a tractor, a few four-wheel-drives, a small crane and some smart manoeuvring between telegraph poles.

Preparation for the weekend's move started on Saturday and at 6.30am on Sunday the jet's journey from Raymond Terrace to its new home at Williamtown began, coming to an end at Fighter World at 7.45am.

Due to size of the jet, and the fact that it could not be dismantled, road signs had to be removed

to make way for its 11.2-metre wing span, and a police escort had to join the journey.

"The crane had to be drilled into the ground

. . . and counter weights brought in to lift it," a council spokeswoman said.

The council decided to give the plane to Williamtown Fighter World after a restoration quote for the badly corroded plane came in at more than $250,000.

Fighter World will clean and refurbish the jet before it goes on display later this year.

The jet was due to be moved on March 3 but was delayed until Sunday, March 10, due recent heavy to rain.