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Red
Arrows Hawks in history
 1999 marked the
twentieth year of the Hawk bearing the markings of the Red Arrows, although the first
official display season was not until 1980. Much can be found on the official website regarding the pilots, but
here we look at the mounts in which they fly and place their trust when formating just a
few feet apart.
Since 1979, some twenty red-painted
airframes have served with the team, together with others drawn from the fleet that have
not been painted but used for training. Latest to join is XX156, the third production
airframe, so ironically the oldest Hawk amongst the team. Eight have been lost in
incidents, but only two have occurred during a public display. Thirteen Hawks are
currently assigned to the fleet, being rotated through the slots as maintenance
requirements demand. It is envisaged that at current usage levels it will be 2005 before a
replacement is considered, although with the recent announcement of an order with BAe for
new Hawk fuselages the team could be flying the type for another twenty years yet!
Current aircraft are highlighted in bold,
a picture can be found if underlined:
- XX156
- Delivered April 1999 as replacement for XX252.
- XX227
- Delivered February 1980 as one of the original spares, Red 10.
Trials aircraft for smoke equipment in '78.
- XX233
- Joined the Team in December 1987 from 4FTS.
- XX237
- Joined the Team in the winter of 1984 with XX308 as replacements
for XX251 & XX257.
- XX243
- Winter of 1983 to January 1988. Written-off (w/o) at Scampton.
- XX251
- August 1979 to March 1984. Founder aircraft, w/o at Akrotiri.
First 'official' Red Arrow Hawk.
- XX252
- August 1979 to November 1998. Founder aircraft, crashed
Cranwell.
- XX253
- Founder aircraft, delivered August 1979.
- XX257
- September 1979 to July 1984. Founder aircraft, w/o Sidmouth, Devon.
- XX259
- October 1979 to November 1987. Founder aircraft, w/o Scampton.
- XX260
- Founder aircraft, delivered October 1979.
- XX262
- November 1979 to May 1980. Founder aircraft, w/o Brighton seafront
(collided with mast of a yacht). First Hawk to be lost in the RAF.
- XX264
- Founder aircraft, delivered November 1979.
- XX266
- Founder aircraft, delivered November 1979. Last of the original
nine to be delivered, first smoke-capable aircraft.
- XX292
- Joined the Team in 1996 from 4FTS.
- XX294
- Joined the Team in March 1988 from 4FTS, replacement for XX259.
- XX297
- Winter of 1983 to October 1986. W/o at Scampton.
- XX304
- April 1980 to June 1988. Original spare Red 11, w/o at Scampton.
- XX306
- Delivered March 1980 as one of the original spares, Red 12.
- XX307
- Joined the Team in August 1988 from HQ CFS, replacement for XX304.
- XX308
- Joined the Team in the winter of 1984 with XX237 as replacements
for XX251 & XX257.
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