Red Arrows: Inside The Bubble
Discussion
There is virtually no difference between the Hawks that RAFAT fly and those at Valley nor was there any difference between the Hawk build batches between 1976 and 1988.
Technically the RAFAT jets are Hawk TMk1A (of which 88 were delivered to the RAF) which means they can be fitted with wing hardpoints and have the centre section hardpoint. In the Reds case this carries the 'smoke pod' (which in reality is a tank containing diesel and dye); in the case of the training jets the centre pylon carried the 30mm ADEN cannon and the wing pylons generally carried CBLS (Carrier Bomb Light Stores - ie practice bomb carriers), but in the early days could carry the 68mm MATRA rocket pod or even the AIM-9L Sidewinder (when operating in the day fighter role as part of what was known as MFF - Mixed Fighter Force).
The main differences between a RAFAT Hawk and the others are that the Reds' machines have plumbing to get the diesel and dyes from the tank to just aft of the jetpipe (for smoke generation) and the fact that the Adour engine Fuel/Air control systems are modified to allow a faster engine spool up.
Technically the RAFAT jets are Hawk TMk1A (of which 88 were delivered to the RAF) which means they can be fitted with wing hardpoints and have the centre section hardpoint. In the Reds case this carries the 'smoke pod' (which in reality is a tank containing diesel and dye); in the case of the training jets the centre pylon carried the 30mm ADEN cannon and the wing pylons generally carried CBLS (Carrier Bomb Light Stores - ie practice bomb carriers), but in the early days could carry the 68mm MATRA rocket pod or even the AIM-9L Sidewinder (when operating in the day fighter role as part of what was known as MFF - Mixed Fighter Force).
The main differences between a RAFAT Hawk and the others are that the Reds' machines have plumbing to get the diesel and dyes from the tank to just aft of the jetpipe (for smoke generation) and the fact that the Adour engine Fuel/Air control systems are modified to allow a faster engine spool up.
Ginetta G15 Girl said:
There is virtually no difference between the Hawks that RAFAT fly and those at Valley nor was there any difference between the Hawk build batches between 1976 and 1988.
Cheers G15G.I had taken it as read that the smoke plumbing was non-standard, but assumed it wouldn't be a huge issue to fit it to other Hawk airframes. Sounds like it wouldn't be too hard to co-opt a few of the training fleet and press them into service with the Reds, rather than have to find a whole new type to migrate to.
I'm not sure what Fatigue Life is left on the Hawk T1/T1A fleet. I do know that 80 aircraft were subject to the Fuselage Replacement Programme from the mid '90s onwards where the centre and rear sections of the fuselage were replaced.
AFAIAA the T1 training role has now been taken on by the T2 so I guess there will be a number of airframes that could be cannibalised.
AFAIAA the T1 training role has now been taken on by the T2 so I guess there will be a number of airframes that could be cannibalised.
Gassing Station | TV, Film, Video Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff