Small · ICAO HAWK

Bae Systems Hawk

The BAE Systems Hawk is a British jet trainer, designed to teach pilots the handling characteristics of a fast jet before they move on to frontline fighters. It's best known to the public as the aircraft flown by the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows aerobatic display team, instantly recognisable in their red livery trailing coloured smoke. Beyond training, lightly armed versions have also served in a light attack and air-defence role for several air forces. Decades after its first flight, it remains in widespread use as a jet trainer around the world.

Bae Systems Hawk, example photo from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Photo: Cpl Andy Benson RAF/MOD · OGL v1.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Did you know?

The BAE Hawk is instantly recognisable as the aircraft flown by the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force's aerobatic display team.

Specifications

Length11.9 m (39 ft)
Wingspan9.9 m (33 ft)
Height4 m (13 ft)
Persons on board2
Crew2
Maximum take-off weight6.1 t
Range1,500 NM (2,778 km)
Maximum speed540 kt (1,000 km/h)
Service ceiling44,500 ft (13,564 m)
Optimum ceiling42,000 ft (12,802 m)
Rate of climb9,300 ft/min (47.2 m/s)
Take-off distance122 m (400 ft)
Landing distance1,000 m (3,281 ft)
Fuel capacity1,630 l
Engines1x Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour
Units built1,000

Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.

In CatchFlights

In CatchFlights the Bae Systems Hawk starts as a Uncommon catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.

A catch counts for the manufacturer Bae Systems, the Hawk family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.

Catch it yourself.CatchFlights shows the aircraft flying near you on a radar, so a type like this one is only a catch away when it passes overhead. Explore CatchFlights.

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