South African Hawk flies
Date: 8 December 2003
THE first Hawk for the South African Air Force is shown making its maiden flight at BAE Systems’ Warton airfield on October 2, 2003. Piloted by Gordon McLyment, it was airborne for 23min. The aircraft is finished in two-tone grey and carries the temporary UK serial ZJ970; a toned-down national insignia is just visible near the fin tip with the SAAF serial 250 on the rear fuselage.
An order for 12 was placed in late ’99, with a follow-up order for a further 12 in early ’02. This will be the only SAAF Hawk be built and flown in this country, since all the others will be assembled and flown by Denel Aviation in South Africa. ZJ970 was due for delivery as air cargo in mid-October and all 24 are expected to be with the Air Force by 2006.
The SAAF Mk.120, will be powered by the Adour Mk.951 turbofan of some 6,500lb thrust, a 25% increase on first generation RAF T.1s (5,200lb), and which incorporates Full Authority Digital Engine Control. However, ZJ970 is understood to have an early development ‘hybrid’ 951 powerplant. Other features will be HUD, glass displays, IN, GPS, FLIR, laser ranging, RWR and countermeasures dispensing. A brake parachute housing (top rear ‘box’) can be seen on this variant.
The company’s Hawk New Demonstrator Aircraft, ZJ951, has been in South Africa for some months as part of the Mk.120 aircraft/engine development programme.
Neville B Beckett (Air Pictorial)
