HAWKER SIDDELEY HAWK T.1A XX301 |
XX301's initial service history
XX301 was built by Hawker-Siddeley Ltd, and was test flown from its airfield at Dunsfold. It was delivered to the Royal Air Force (RAF) on 7th February 1980, and was issued to No.1 Tactical Weapons Unit (1TWU) at RAF Brawdy. Painted in a wraparound camouflage colour scheme with the last three digits of its serial applied on the tail fin, the airframe was used for weapons training until April 1984. It was then grounded and moved to British Aerospace for modifications to allow it to carry AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. During May 1986, XX301 was ferried to RAF Chivenor, in preparation for reissue to No.2TWU and its shadow squadron RAF 151(R). Now sporting the RAF air defence grey colour scheme, XX301 was assigned the fleet code 'L', and was employed on combat and low flying training for the next six years with the Squadron. In September 1992, RAF 151(R) Sqn was disbanded as a result of 2TWU being reclassified as No.7 Flying Training School (7FTS), and XX301 joined a new 'shadow' Squadron that had been stood up; RAF 92(R) Sqn. Keeping its 'L' identity, XX301 continued in service at RAF Chivenor until 7FTS itself was disbanded on 30th September 1994. With the demise of its parent Unit, and no immediate need for re-issue elsewhere, the airframe was placed in store. XX301's FRADU career With no prospect of further RAF service, XX301 was instead placed on loan to the Royal Navy. It was ferried to RNAS Yeovilton on 9th February 1995 to commence Fleet Air Arm service with the Fleet Requirements & Air Direction Unit (FRADU). Still wearing its grey finish and '301' coding on the fin, XX301 was a regular sight over Somerset, as it and a small number of Hawk airframes gradually replaced the FRADU's familiar Hawker Hunter platforms. Was it with FRADU in 2013? Yes. Click here to access further information. - December 2020 |
[© Brian Johnstone] [© Geoff Wakeham] [© Kevin Slade] |
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