RAAF
BAE SYSTEMS
Hawk 127 LIF
Part
Eight - A27-16 & A27-21,
(76 and
79 Squadron Special Scheme Hawks)
Photo Gallery
Text
and Photos by Darren Mottram
In late 2002 I approached 76 Squadron with the suggestion of applying a
high visibility scheme to one of it's new Hawks to enhance the visibility
of the aircraft, 76 squadron and the RAAF at the many airshows at which
the Hawks were beginning to appear for flight and aerobatic demonstrations.
In particular, the then approaching Avalon International Air Show. Just
before Avalon, in Febrary 2003, the decision was made to apply one of the
schemes I had submitted to A27-16. Owing to time constraints, the scheme
was not fully applied as intended but, I hope, still makes a colourful
change to the more usual grey colours seen on today's millitary aircraft.
In 2003 79 Squadron took the opportunity to celebrate their 60th anniversary
by applying a special paint scheme to BAE Hawk 127, A27-21.
The scheme was designed by Jeremy Caesar and painted by Scott Miles
and incorporates various elements from the unit's past. The tail marking
represents a stylized Phoenix and Cobra, both of which have been used by
the unit on it's aircraft over the years. And the codes on the forward
fuselage represent those which were worn on the Commanding Officer's Spitfire
during the Second World War (79's sqn code was "UP").
Being based at Pearce in Western Australia (several thousand Kilometres
away) I was resigned to never getting to see this one in the flesh. But
79 Squadron recently took this aircraft on a "tour" to show it off and
also to highlight the anniversary to those who may not have been aware
of the occasion.
Luckily Williamtown was on the list of stop-overs and I was finally
able to get the opportunity to see and photograph this little known and
rarely seen scheme (see http://motty.hobbyvista.com/Articles/hawkdm_21-01.html
for
a detailed coverage of this jet).
Having the only two specially painted Hawks in the RAAF together at
the same base was too good a chance to miss (and very likely the only time
this will happen, considering the distances that normally separate them)
so the opportunity was taken to position the two jets together for a special
photo shoot. I was extremely lucky enough to be able to take part in this
shoot and would like to share the results with you here.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the members of 76 and
79 Squadrons, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and BAE SYSTEMS for
giving me the permission and opportunity to be able to share this
information with you all.
My thanks to the members of 76 Squadron and the crews from
79 Squadron for allowing me the opportunity to take these photos.
For more of my hawk detail and photo articles, see;
http://motty.hobbyvista.com/Articles/hawkdm_5.html
Detailed walk around, including cockpits and stores.
http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/hawkdm_4.htm
Coverage of early 76 squadron markings and colours.
http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/hawkdm_79Sqn-01.html
Coverage of 79 squadron markings and colours.
http://motty.hobbyvista.com/Articles/hawkdm_16-01.html
Detailed coverage of the 76 Sqn display colour scheme on A27-16
http://motty.hobbyvista.com/Articles/hawkdm_21-01.html
Detailed coverage of the 79 Sqn anniversary colour scheme on A27-21
http://motty.hobbyvista.com/Hawk-Articles-01.html
All my Hawk articles index.
Text and Images Copyright © 2003 by Darren
Mottram
Used with the permission of BAE SYSTEMS and the RAAF
Page Created Saturday 13 December, 2003
This page last updated on Saturday
13 December, 2003
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