BAE Hawk T.1
Best known as the aircraft of the RAF’S Red Arrows, the Hawk is a highly versatile aircraft used around the world
See inside the legendary aircraft flown by the world-famous Red Arrows
HAWKER SIDDELEY/BAE HAWK T.1/1A COMMISSIONED: 1971 ORIGIN: UK CREW: LENGTH: 11.85M (38FT 11IN) RANGE: 2,426KM (1,507MI) WITH INTERNAL TANKS ENGINE: ROLLS ROYCE TURBOMECA ADOUR MK. 151 TURBOFAN PRIMARY WEAPON: AIM 9-L SIDEWINDER AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES, 30MM ADEN GUN POD
Despite being nearly 50 years old, the basic concept of the Hawk is as potent now as it has ever been. Its strength is perhaps its simplicity. It was designed as an advanced trainer, and intended to be easy and cheap to build, fly and maintain. In this respect it started service with an almost unique feat: the original RAF order was delivered on time, on budget and to specifications. Since then, the basic airframe has provided excellent service, with high serviceability and low accident rates.
The Hawk has also proven to be lucrative in the export market. The proven characteristics of the aircraft as low-maintenance and highly versatile have led to numerous overseas orders. Over 1,000 Hawks have been made, with 80 per cent being adapted for use in a wide range of climates and roles and sold to overseas buyers. Some of these sales have been controversial, and a few even blocked, but development of new types to fit specific nations’ needs still continues today. There are hundreds of airframes still on order by India, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Oman and South Africa.
Most famously, the Hawk is the aircraft of the Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team, better known as the Red Arrows. They first received Hawks in 1979, and they debuted in the 1980 air show season. With high-performance, robust and with excellent fields of view, the Hawk T.1 proved to be an exceptional aircraft for aerobatics, and the original airframes delivered in 1979-80 only began to be replaced in 2011.
“HUNDREDS OF AIRFRAMES ARE STILL ON ORDER BY INDIA, AUSTRALIA, SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN AND SOUTH AFRICA”
“IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE SIMPLE BUT ELEGANT, WITH A STRONG BUT UNCOMPLICATED STRUCTURE MAKING MANUFACTURE AND MAINTENANCE EASY”
DESIGN
The Hawk originated as a private venture by Hawker Siddeley. It was envisioned as an advanced trainer and was carefully moulded to that requirement. It was designed to be simple but elegant, with a strong but uncomplicated structure making manufacture and maintenance easy. A fuel-efficient engine kept acquisition and running costs low. As a trainer, the cockpit was designed to give both pilots a good field of view. Nearly 40 different variants have been developed, with the design easily tailored and updated to meet the needs of the 18 countries that currently operate the Hawk.
ARMAMENT
Designed from the start as an advanced trainer, the Hawk T.1 was originally configured to be able to carry a centre-line 30mm ADEN gun pod for a secondary ground attack role. In 1983 the RAF asked for fittings to be added for two AIM 9-L Sidewinders, to fill an additional role as a local defence fighter. Nearly 90 aircraft were modified, becoming the Hawk T.1a. Since then, numerous Hawk export variants have been fitted out for combat roles, with the most recent design (Hawk 200) being specifically designed as a multi-role combat aircraft.
ENGINE
The Hawk T.1’s engine was originally developed jointly by Rollsroyce and Turbomeca to be used in the SEPECAT Jaguar B trainer. It is a two-shaft low bypass turbofan, and the versions used on the Hawk T.1/1a do not have afterburners, although other versions do. Delivering 27 kilonewtons (6,000 pounds) of thrust, it is a simple, reliable engine, easy to maintain and with low fuel consumption. The Hawk T.2 uses an Adour Mk. 951, a heavily re-designed Mk. 151 with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), new fan and combustor and employing revised turbines, giving 29 kilonewtons (6,500 pounds) of thrust.
COCKPIT
As with everything else with the Hawk, its primary role was clearly in mind when the cockpit was designed. In particular, by having the rear seat so high it gives the instructor an excellent field of view, especially during landings. On the T.1/1a, the cockpit is relatively spacious and uncluttered, with the various instruments and switches easily accessible. On the T.2 (RAF/ RN version of the Hawk 128) the cockpit is digital, making it a far more appropriate stepping stone towards modern fast jets like the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Lightning.
“ON THE T.2 THE COCKPIT IS DIGITAL, MAKING IT A FAR MORE APPROPRIATE STEPPING STONE TOWARDS MODERN FAST JETS”
SERVICE HISTORY THE HAWK HAS BEEN WIDELY USED BY 18 COUNTRIES IN A VARIETY OF ROLES OVER ITS LONG OPERATIONAL LIFE
The Hawk T.1 entered service with the RAF in 1977 and quickly proved itself as an outstanding training aircraft. Easy to fly and maintain, and cheap to run, it achieved a high sortie rate at No. 4 Flying Training School at RAF Valley, where it still operates today. In the 1980s the T.1a was developed to fulfil a local air defence role, a second line of defence against Soviet bombers behind the heavier- armed interceptors. A variation on this role has been held by No. 100 Squadron since 1991, operating their Hawk T.1s as ‘aggressors’ (or ‘Red air’), mimicking enemy aircraft and tactics for fast jet air-to-air combat training.
The simplicity and easy adaptability of the Hawk has made it a popular export, with 18 countries (including the UK) operating nearly 40 different variants that have evolved over the decades. Recently, the RAF has procured a more up-to-date version, the Hawk T.2 (based on the Hawk 128), with upgraded cockpit and avionics. A digital cockpit and weapons simulation software makes it a far better bridge to fast jets – by introducing this training earlier, it cuts the training hours needed on the far more expensive to fly frontline aircraft.
“THE SIMPLICITY AND EASY ADAPTABILITY OF THE HAWK HAS MADE IT A POPULAR EXPORT, WITH 18 COUNTRIES (INCLUDING THE UK) OPERATING NEARLY 40 DIFFERENT VARIANTS THAT HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE DECADES”