The Hawk is a tandem two seat aircraft, primarily used for initial cost effective fighter training to prepare aircrew for operational conversion to the F/A-18 Hornet fighter or F-111 strike aircraft.

Operated by No.76 Squadron located at RAAF Williamtown, New South Wales and No.79 Squadron located at RAAF Pearce, Western Australia, under the command of 78 Wing, the Hawk 127s through-life support programs have been designed for a 25 year life of type: its design allows for growth capacity to ensure system upgrades can be incorporated, to reflect the evolving training requirements.

The Hawk 127 is a low wing, all metal structured aircraft, fitted with an integrated navigation and attack system, and powered by a single Adour Mk.871 turbofan engine, which has a two stage low pressure (LP) compressor driven by a single stage LP turbine, and a five-stage high pressure (HP) compressor driven by a single HP turbine. The avionics system is integrated via 1553 multiplex database. The principle components are two display and mission computers (DMCs), which coordinate, process and command the display of information from the communications, navigation and attack sub-systems. Each cockpit has Hands On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS) control.

Mission-specific data can be pre-programmed by the pilot and downloaded into the system using a data transfer system. Equipment performance, aircraft fatigue and engine life data is monitored and recorded by a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS).

The Hawk 127 armament system provides for the carriage, aiming and release/firing of practice and Mk82 series bombs, AIM-9M missiles and a 30mm cannon. The stores are carried on two wingtip missile stations and pylon mounted on four underwing and one centreline hardpoints. A 30mm Aden cannon carried in a gunpod can be installed on the centreline station in place of the pylon. Stores are controlled by the integrated stores management system (SMS).

TECHNICAL DATA

Manufacturer: BAE Systems

Role: Two seat advanced trainer/light attack fighter

Engine: Single Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk 871

Airframe Length: 11.95m

Height: 4.08m

Wingspan: 9.39m

Weight: 5443kg

Range: 1207km

Ceiling: 50000 feet

Speed: 1207kmh

Crew: Pilot (Instructor) and student

Force Size: Air Force currently operates 33 Hawk 127 aircraft

SF Hawk Link:

Hawk brought to you by RussoUK2002 - cheers!. Thanks also to BUFF for hosting the original Hawk!

 Link to RAAF 79 Squadron texture by me: