BAe Hawk T.Mk 1 – RAF Red Arrows, RAF Scampton, England, 2008 DISPLAYED

Corgi Aviation 1/72 scale AA36008: BAe Hawk T.Mk 1 of the RAF Red Arrows, RAF Scampton, England, 2008. Non limited edition with set of decals to produce one of several team aircraft

Length 6.25 inches Wingspan 5.25 inches

PLEASE NOTE: This is an imperfect ex display model. There are a couple of paint imperfections, but the model is otherwise all complete and boxed, as per photos

The Corgi second Red Arrows Hawk replicates the team’s new 2008 livery, incorporating the words “Royal Air Force” into the white flash adorning the sides of the fuselage. While Corgi’s first Red Arrows Hawk featured the tail number XX294 in 2005 livery, this latest release includes a water-slide decal sheet with all nine aircraft numbers, allowing collectors to display the entire team!

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Display Team, The Red Arrows, was originally established in 1964 making its debut in the spring of 1965 with 7 Folland Gnat jet trainers. In 1968 the team was increased to nine aircraft and adopted the classical “Diamond Nine” formation which has become the team’s trademark recognized world-wide. The team took delivery of the BAE Hawk in the winter of 1979 performing its first display the following summer. Sporting a distinctive brilliant red paint-scheme, the Hawk has taken the team on tours of Europe, the USA, the Middle and Far East and Australia – in all, The Red Arrows have displayed in 50 countries.

Designed to meet an RAF requirement for a fast trainer to replace the Folland Gnat, the BAe Hawk first flew on August 21, 1974. This tandem two-seat aircraft has a distinctive appearance, with the front seat positioned below the rear seat so that the instructor has a clear view of the student’s cockpit. The Hawk is subsonic in level flight but can achieve Mach 1.15 in a dive, giving trainees the experience of supersonic flight. Hawks are expensive to produce but durable and manoeuvrable enough to be used for combat. The Hawk is in use in 18 different nations.