All Hawk T1s will be gone by 31 March 2022
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: The Jungle
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Not overly onerous qualifying it nor supporting it, especially if DIO and SO2 Ranges (or whatever they’re called these days) leaned in, even more so if appropriate ballistic tables and data were available.
Better getter the USMC to agree a policy change to the JCAS MOA.
Better getter the USMC to agree a policy change to the JCAS MOA.
I’m sure we could get a policy change through to the JFS ESC if attacked at the right level.
There was still supposed to be 9 until very recently, plus an increase in establishment (from 13 to 16+) to cater for TMk.1 conversion/training. However, RAFCAM tasking is news to me, but their aeroplanes (XX162 and XX327 with instrumentation) have been retired to Valley (RTP) and Shawbury (store).
There was still supposed to be 9 until very recently, plus an increase in establishment (from 13 to 16+) to cater for TMk.1 conversion/training. However, RAFCAM tasking is news to me, but their aeroplanes (XX162 and XX327 with instrumentation) have been retired to Valley (RTP) and Shawbury (store).
Join Date: Dec 2021
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As Teeonefixer posted above they had 162 and 327 but both a/c still had the original fuselage (ie pre mod 2010) so were well overdue retirement - esp 162 who's fuselage had never been completely up to full production standard anyway (8th Hawk built).
There was still supposed to be 9 until very recently, plus an increase in establishment (from 13 to 16+) to cater for TMk.1 conversion/training. However, RAFCAM tasking is news to me, but their aeroplanes (XX162 and XX327 with instrumentation) have been retired to Valley (RTP) and Shawbury (store).
There was sufficient Fatigue Life left in these 2 airframes to see them to their previous OSD, give or take when their next Major servicing was due. I don't know if DE&S had any serious thoughts of post-Mod 2010 replacements given alternative means of carrying out some of the work (e.g. new Centrifuge).
There were plenty of 2010 a/c available from storage for a couple of years,indeed I did try on a number of occasions to get my then company management to get hold of a couple to 'major' and then to use as 'Hacks' to save FI on our instrumented fleet - they eventually did get the green light and then shortly afterwards of course the MOD changed their minds and decided to extend the T1 OSD and carry out the major programme (result - no hacks LOL).
As to Fatigue Life I would agree that 327 would probably have been good for another few years but 162 had a pre production standard fuselage structure and I would personally say that the RAF had had their moneys worth out of that particular airframe
cheers LR
Everything comes down to £££££ !!
Interesting that Sqn Ldr Ramsden is showing the RAFAT conversion, but it is in the Gaydon Hangar at Valley, so the work is being done by HIOS (Babcocks/BAE Systems)
Interesting that Sqn Ldr Ramsden is showing the RAFAT conversion, but it is in the Gaydon Hangar at Valley, so the work is being done by HIOS (Babcocks/BAE Systems)
Last edited by teeonefixer; 25th May 2022 at 07:44. Reason: update
RAFAT have had some non-smoking Reds previously to complete the full establishment (some ex-Display aeroplanes were used as they had all the essential mods). Valley are fully equipped to carry out the Smoke System Mod as they are doing the "routine" conversions, taking the work over from Shawbury.
