RAF HS Hawk T1W on RAF Lossiemouth airfield Approach. SCO 8501
In 1964 the Royal Air Force specified a requirement for a new initial jet trainer to replace the Folland Gnat. In 1968 Hawker Siddeley began the design of a much simpler strictly subsonic trainer, the It was to have tandem seating and would be capable of carrying armaments, which would enable it to be used as a weapons trainer and in light combat roles. Royal Air Force Hawker Siddeley Hawk (XX205) at Kemble Airport, England, with its pilot. This aircraft is dedicated to aerobatic demonstrations so is in a special colour "Hawk" in 1973, the aircraft first flew in 1974. It entered RAF service in April 1976, replacing the Gnat and Hawker Hunter in the advanced training and weapons training roles respectively. The following year Hawker Siddeley merged with other British aircraft companies to form the nationalised British Aerospace (BAe), which subsequently became BAE Systems upon merger with Marconi Electronic Systems in 1999. The Hawk has excellent manoeuvrability, and while it is not capable of supersonic speed in level flight, it can attain Mach in a dive, allowing trainees to experience transsonic handling without the cost of a supersonic trainer. The Hawk subsequently replaced the English Electric Canberra in the target towing role. The Royal Navy acquired a dozen Hawk 1/1As from the RAF, for use as aerial targets for the training of ships gunners and radar operators. From 1983 to 1986, some Hawks were equipped as the short-range interceptor aircraft for point defence. 88 were modified to carry two AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missiles in addition to the centerline gun pod carrying a single 30 mm ADEN cannon. These aircraft were designated In the event of war, they would have worked in collaboration with Tornado aircraft, which would use their Foxhunter search radars to vector the radarless Hawks against enemy targets. Such missions would have been flown by instructor pilots.
Size: 5856px × 4178px
Location: RAF Lossiemouth, Moray. Grampian Region. Scotland. United Kingdom.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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