Debut of new trainer/light attack aircraft engine

[Gunship]

BAE Systems recently disclosed that the South African Hawk New Demonstrator
Aircraft flew for the first time with the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk 951
engine on 27 May. The sortie, at the South African Air Force's (SAAF's) Test
Flight and Development Centre (TFDC) in the Cape Province, lasted around 90
minutes and included in-flight shutdown and restart trials. The demonstrator
will be based at the TFDC for several months for development and integration
trials with the new engine, which will power the SAAF's 24 Hawk lead-in fighter
trainers. The Adour Mk 951 is also being promoted as part of the Hawk Mk 128
advanced jet trainer package being considered to meet UK needs. Full SAAF trials
of the Hawk will begin in 2005, with the service to operate two squadrons of the
aircraft from mid-2006.

[rags]

Do they have pilots and fuel for 2 squadrons.

[Gunship]

Ja Rags ... ja... meaning Nee rags Nee ....

Dean W writes in the SAAF Newsgroup that it might make it's firs display at the TFDC Airshow later this this month or next month at Bredasdorp ..

Did you get the correct dates Dean ?

[Deanw]

Hi Guns

Yup ... TFDC fly-In is on 14 - 16 November this year!

It's about a 1.5 hours drive from Cape Town, but well worth it.

Last year there were more warbirds in private hands than the SAAF!