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Hawk
The maximum level speed of the Hawk is over 1000 km/h and the aircraft can attain supersonic speed (M1.2) in a dive. The Royal Air Force bought 175 Hawk Mk T1 aircraft in the late 70's. RAF Hawks are used in advanced jet and weapons training. US Navy and USMC train pilots with a T-45 Goshawk derivative of the basic BAe Hawk. Other user countries include Brunei, Finland, Indonesia, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and United Arab Emirates.
The British Aerospace Hawk is a light-attack and trainer similar to the Alpha Jet, M.B.326, AMX, F-5 Freedom Fighter. Through a continuing update and modernization program, the 20-year old Hawk is still known as one of the world’s best advanced trainers and light-attack aircraft.
With a crew of two, if features low-mounted, swept-back wings that are tapered with curved tips. One turbofan engine is located inside the body, with semicircular air intakes alongside the body forward of the wing roots and a single exhaust. The top line of the fuselage curves up from the pointed nose to incorporate the long clear cockpit canopy then slopes down to the jetpipe, giving a humped appearance, with slightly-swept vertical and horizontal tail surfaces.
The BAe Hawk is the RAF's current advanced jet trainer. Prospective RAF fast jet pilots convert from the Tucano to the Hawk, which is flown primarily out of RAF Valley on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales as part of No. 4 FTS. Hawks of 100 Squadron and the JFACTSU are operated at RAF Leeming. The World-famous Red Arrows aerobatic team fly their ten flame-red Hawks from RAF Cranwell to practice over their former airfield at RAF Scampton, moving to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus during the Spring.
Recently, the Hawk has undergone various changes that have involved the creation of the Hawk 100 and 200 attack aircraft, which have been bought exclusively by overseas customers. The Royal Air Force's Hawk T.1As also have an aggressive role as a point defence fighters, when they are equipped with Sidewinder air-to-air missiles on the wings and a 30 mm Aden cannon pod on the centreline hardpoint. This supplementary role extends to the Hawks of the Red Arrows.
Specifications | |
| Country of Origin | UK |
| Builder | British Aerospace |
| Role | Light-attack, trainer |
| Similar Aircraft | Alpha Jet, M.B.326, AMX, F-5 Freedom Fighter |
| Wing Span | 31 ft (9.42 m) |
| Length | 39 ft (11.94 m) |
| Height | |
| Weight | |
| Engine | One Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 151 turbofan of 5,200lb st. |
| Maximum speed | 622mph (1,000km/h) at sea level |
| Cruising speed | |
| Range | |
| Service Ceiling | |
| Armament |
Hawk T1
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| Crew | Two |
| Cost | |
| User Countries | Brunei, Finland, Indonesia, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, UK, USA (T-45 Goshawk). |
