A demonstration led by the Royal Air Force has proven the Hawk advanced jet trainer’s ability to operate in soaring temperatures.
A pair of Hawk T2 aircraft from the RAF’s IV Squadron undertook a series of planned exercises in temperatures reaching 44 °C to showcase Hawk’s capabilities in testing conditions.
The demonstration included low level sorties and extended taxiing designed to exacerbate the temperature and prove the aircraft’s ability to operate in conditions typically found in the summer months in the Gulf.
Its advanced airborne simulation technology and next generation cockpit design puts student pilots at the controls of any combat aircraft, including F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet, F-16 and also F-35.
The Hawk has been used for training exercises in the Gulf for decades and is operated by air forces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Oman to prepare their Typhoon pilots. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait also have the aircraft as part of their training pipelines.
Peter Kosogorin, a test pilot from BAE Systems Flight Operations, said: “We were exceptionally well supported by the team from the RAF’s IV Squadron which enabled us to carry out all the necessary exercises to demonstrate Hawk’s capabilities.
“Not only were we able to show Hawk is capable of carrying out all the necessary exercises at high temperatures, the support team from the RAF consistently turned the aircraft around in under 40 minutes demonstrating its flexibility and efficiency.”
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