Together with the Aero L-39 Albatros the BAe Hawk is the
worlds most manufactored trainig airplane and it can be found in several countries all
over the globe, for example: Great Britain, Finland, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.
First in service in 1976, the plane is the most important trainer of the Royal Air
Force nowadays.
After several updates and modifications the Hawk can also be used as single seat groud
attack fighter. (known as Hawk 200)
The Red Arrows upgraded from the Folland Gnat to the Hawk in 1980, today 12 aircraft
belong to the aerobatics team - 9 are used for the display and the rest are spare planes.
Equipped with 320 liter tanks (under the fuselage) the Reds are able to produce colored
smoke! This very nice effect is caused by a Diesel- Oil mixture sprayed directly into the
hot exhausts of the jets.