On 28 January the first Hawk to fly out from Brough's
recommissioned runway was Company Demonstrator ZJ951 which had been at
Brough for a systems upgrade bringing it up to a standard similar to
the new generation RAF Hawk Mk128s. The following week Indian Hawk
Mk132 HT022 became the first Brough built Hawk to fly from the site.
The first five Indian Air Force Hawk Mk132 aircraft entered
service at Bidar AFS on 23 February. Training operations are to start
in July. It is reported that India plans to order an additional 40
aircraft bringing their total buy to 106.
Sea Harrier News
Sea Harrier FA2 XZ457, following a three-year
restoration at the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, has been
transferred to Yeovilton for static display.
First
flying in December 1979 FRSMk1 XZ457 served with 800 Squadron in HMS
Hermes and was the top scoring 'Shar' in the Falklands campaign, Lt CRW
Morrell shooting down two A-4Qs and Lt Cdr AD Auld two Daggers. It was
converted to FA2 standard in 1993 but caught fire in October 1995.
Sea Harrier FA2, ZA195, the first development aircraft,
previously on display at the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, has been
moved to the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. First flying as an
FRSMk1 in September 1982 it served with 899 Squadron before returning
to Dunsfold for conversion.
The Indian Navy is buying four surplus Sea Harrier airframes to use as spares sources.
