British Aerospace Hawk T.1 XX154, Pre-production aircraft, Empire Test Pilots School, Boscombe Down,
Wiltshire, August 2019 – Aircraft now with the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection at Old Sarum
Without doubt one of the most historic British jet aircraft of the post war era, British Aerospace Hawk T.1 XX154 is the first prototype airframe of an aircraft
type which would go on to be hugely important to the British military, whilst at the same time becoming a stunning export success for the British aviation industry.
Making her first flight from Dunsfold airfield on 21st August 1974, XX154 would spend her entire service life as a test and development aircraft, helping to ensure
that this magnificent training aeroplane reached its full potential - with over 1000 aircraft built to date, she certainly excelled in this task. Spending time with
such famous units as the Royal Aircraft Establishment and the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment, XX154 would spend the final 20 years of
her service life with the Empire Test Pilots’ School at Boscombe Down and after undergoing her last major service, she was given this smart black colour scheme,
in recognition of her service. Also wearing a representation of the ETPS crest on either side of her tail, a gold coloured eagle, XX154 would end her flying days
as one of Britain’s most attractive military aircraft. When this very special aeroplane made her final flight in December 2018, she had clocked up an impressive
6000 flying hours, the limit imposed for original Hawk airframes. This hard working aircraft was making a valuable contribution to the British Military
