The 50th anniversary of the Hawk aircraft's maiden flight has been celebrated in East Yorkshire.
In August of 1974, the Hawk prototype aircraft – originally called XX154 – first took to the air at RAF Valley.
The flight lasted 53 minutes and reached a height of 20,000ft. It was heralded as the launch of the world’s most successful military training aircraft.
Five decades on, the Hawk is still in service around the world. From the BAE Systems factory in Brough, the plane has been exported to 22 countries and is still flown by the world’s most famous aerobatics team – the Red Arrows.
The plane has been exported to 22 countries and is still flown by the world’s most famous aerobatics team – the Red ArrowsGB NewsIn honour of its 50th anniversary, David Wilson Homes has launched an exhibition in Brough at the new Hawk View housing development near to the former BAE Systems runway.
BAE Systems General Manager James Hardstaff told GB News: "Most air forces around the world strive to be as good as our own RAF.
"So really, the fact that the UK has always chosen Hawk has been massive for us. In these export campaigns, the basic platform is a really good aircraft to fly. It's very forgiving. And it's great for teaching young pilots how to operate.
"But then it's really how we've kept that current with the mission systems upgrades and the type of software that we're putting into it. It really does equip those frontline fighters such as typhoons and F-35.
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BAE Systems employs around 730 people in Brough
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Former staff members who worked on the Hawk shared their memories of the iconic plane at the event.
Carl Mckenzie-Brown is a former Hawk Aircraft Fitter. He first worked on the aircraft in 1986, learning how to build the cockpits.
He told GB News: "When you see the Red Arrows go over, no matter where you see them in the world, I feel very, very fortunate.
"It gives me a little smile and I just think I've been part, be it a small part, of the 50 years of the manufacturing of the Hawk."
Reflecting on his time working at BAE Systems on the Hawk until 2022, Donald Carr, Qualifications Certification Team Leader, said: "It seems to have been around forever, and it's the best training aircraft ever in the world, as proved by its sales figures. It's just such an iconic little aeroplane and it just does everything that it's meant to do so well."
Gareth Jones, Mechanical Systems Engineer, added: "It was for a time, the only aircraft within BAE Systems that was being designed and built and supported from one site."
BAE Systems, who employ around 730 people in Brough, stopped manufacturing parts for the Hawk in 2020 but still supports the aircraft.
Fourth-year EDAS Software Apprentice Mia Enderby said: "We work on the Hawk, but the mission planning and the mission systems, so it's more software-based and kind of what they do for and planning of the missions for training and showing how you would fly a certain path."
The Hawk is still flown by the world’s most famous aerobatics team – the Red Arrows
GB News
BAE Systems is currently working on engineering projects including the Tempest next-generation combat aircraft and the Dreadnought class of ballistic submarines.
Visitors to the David Wilson Homes Hawk exhibition will get the chance to walk through the history of the plane - complete with historical images - beginning with how it started life as a prototype, through production of the different models and right up to the present day.
Daniel Smith, Managing Director of David Wilson Homes, East Yorkshire, said: “Despite production ceasing in Brough in 2017, the town remains synonymous with the aircraft industry and the Hawk in particular.
“It’s amazing to think that one of the world’s most successful and influential military training planes was built in Brough more than 40 years. The BAE factory, which sits just across the runway from our development, holds so many memories for people in this area and beyond.
“We christened our Brough South development Hawk View because we wanted to honour the amazing history of the plane in Brough and the people whose lives it has touched over the years.
“But with the 50th anniversary of the first flight falling during the construction of Hawk View, we knew we had to go a step further and mark it with an event."
The exhibition is free to visit and next open on Monday, August 26th from 10.00am to 5.30pm on August 29 to September 2.
