BAE Systems has conducted the first flight of a new-generation Hawk advanced jet trainer for Saudi Arabia.
Flown from the company’s Warton final-assembly site in Lancashire on 16 September, the aircraft – which currently bears the UK registration ZB101 – is one of 22 Mk 165 examples on order for the Royal Saudi Air Force. The debut sortie was performed by BAE test pilot Andy Blyth, and is “the first in a series of test flights”, according to the manufacturer.
Steve Timms, managing director of defence information, training and services at BAE’s Military Air & Information unit, describes the first flight event as “a significant point in the programme”.
Neville Beckett
Riyadh signed a contract for the type in May 2012 as part of a deal also including 55 Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainers – deliveries of which started in June 2014.
According to a schedule released by BAE when it received the Saudi Arabian order, deliveries of the new Hawk fleet will commence in 2016. Its lead aircraft had been photographed conducting first taxi trials at Warton the previous day.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
