The British Aerospace Hawk started life as the Hawker-Siddeley P1182 which won the competition for a new advanced trainer for the RAF in 1971. The prototype flew in 1974. The British Aerospace Hawk is a small, single engine, two-seat advanced trainer, which entered RAF service in 1976, to replace the Gnat and later the Jet Provost in RAF service.

Since the Hawk is such a responsive, agile and predictable aircraft, students remain with the Hawk throughout their advanced training syllabus, it is also a capable front line fighter carrying war-loads up to 3.100 kg. These are carried beneath the fuselage and on four underwing pylons.

Worldwide sales of the British Aerospace Hawk now exceed 900 aircraft to 19 customers. The most significant order came from the US Navy who selected the Hawk as the basis for its advanced jet strike training program. Known as the T-45 Goshawk.

Red Arrows

In the winter of 1979/80 the Red Arrows took delivery of the Hawk,  it replaced the Hawker Siddeley Gnats which the Red Arrows had flown since 1965. Aside from its paint scheme the Red Arrows Hawk differs little from the standard T Mk1. Each of the teams aircraft carries a ventral 318 liter tank containing diesel oil and red and blue dye, in separate compartments. On selection these fluids are pumped to three jet pipe nozzles where the hot temperature produces the smoke.