On 21st August 1974, the Hawker Siddeley Hawk, registration XX154, took to the skies for the first time in the hands of HSA test pilot Duncan Simpson. Fifty years later, with more than 1,000 Hawks being produced and exported to other nations, the Hawk is widely regarded as the most successful advanced jet trainer in the world having served with eighteen different operators in a variety of roles.
Designed initially as an RAF fast jet trainer replacement for the Folland Gnat, the Hawk has gone on to operate in many designations including as the McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk - the US Navy's aircraft carrier-capable trainer; the British Aerospace Hawk 200 - the single-seat multi-role fighter variant and, of course, the Hawk T.1A - the platform used by the world-famous Red Arrows.
At this year's Royal International Air Tattoo, the 50th anniversary of the Hawk was celebrated with a little get-together of Hawks of five different designations:
1. BAe Hawk T.1A - The Red Arrows
2. BAe Hawk Mk.66 - Finnish Air Force
3. BAe Hawk Mk.65 - The Saudi Hawks
4. BAE Systems Hawk T.2 - Royal Air Force
5. BAE Systems Hawk Mk.167 - Qatar Emiri Air Force
The five different variants, plus an extra T.1A from RAFAT as a photo ship, flew a couple of formation flypasts before a performing a run and break to land. Also included in this video is the arrivals of the 'Saudi Hawks' display team; the Finnish 'Midnight Hawks' display team; a Qatari Mk.167 and a few clips of the Red Arrows displaying,
0:00 - 50th anniversary of the Hawk flypasts
6:36 - Finnish Air Force Hawk Mk.66 Solo Display
8:49 - Saudi Hawks Display Team flypast
9:11 - Finnish Air Force Hawks & F/A-18 flypast
9:48 - Hawk T.2 formation flypast
10:03 - Qatar Emiri Air Force Hawk Mk.167 landing
10:27 - The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team - The Red Arrows
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