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BAe
This page has information on the Hawk, Sea Harrier, Tornado and Typhoon.
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BAe Hawk
One of the most successful jet trainers of recent times (although 2004 saw the 30th anniversary since the first flight), and the mount of the internationally renowned aerobatic team of the Royal Air Force, the Red Arrows, the BAe Systems (nee Hawker Siddeley) Hawk has also been exported to a number of foreign countries, including the US Navy! No mean feat, considering that a number of competing countries with an aircraft industry had a jet trainer to sell, not to mention the dominance of the US aerospace industry.
It was indeed fortunate for the Maltese enthusiast that several Hawks, destined for a number of African and Middle Eastern countries, passed through Luqa Airport on their delivery flight.
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Hawk Demonstrators Before, and during, the deliveries of Hawks staretd, a number of BAe demonstrators had arrived, either for trials, or on their way to a demonstration tour. These have now been moved to the Military Demonstrators page.
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Export Aircraft
The following are all the BAe Hawks known to have transited through Malta on their delivery flight.
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Abu Dhabi Air Force Following hot on the heels of the Dubai order was one for sixteen aircraft for the Abu Dhabi wing of the United Arab Emirates Air Force. Also designated T.Mk.63, they are powered by the 2585 kgp Adour 861 in place of the 22 kgp Adour 851 of earlier export aircraft.
A more obvious difference lay in the serial numbers, or rather, in their absence, as these particular aircraft only carried Arabic numerals. It has been assumed, however, that all aircraft were delivered in numerical order.
| SERIAL No. | DELIVERY DATE | NOTES | | 1001 | 05 Oct 84 | Hawks 1001 – 1004 were accompanied by Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS.1, IN601. | | 1002 | 05 Oct 84 | | | 1003 | 05 Oct 84 | Crashed 15.04.89 | | 1004 | 05 Oct 84 | | | 1005 | 08 Dec 84 | | | 1006 | 08 Dec 84 | | | 1007 | 08 Dec 84 | | | 1008 | 08 Dec 84 | | | 1009 | 04 Jan 85 | Departed on 06 Jan due to flight planning problems. | | 1010 | 04 Jan 85 | | | 1011 | 29 Mar 85 | | | 1012 | 29 Mar 85 | | | 1013 | 29 Mar 85 | | | 1014 | 24 May 85 | | | 1015 | 24 May 85 | | | 1016 | 24 May 85 | Crashed 24.02.87 |
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Dubai Air Force Designated T. Mk.63. Dubai Air Force Hawks operate from the Batin Air Base, the former Abu Dhabi airport, where students undergo training on Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainers.
| SERIAL No. | DELIVERY DATE | NOTES | | 501 | 29 Mar 83 | G-9-502 | | 502 | 29 Mar 83 | G-9-503 | | 503 | 29 Mar 83 | G-9-504, Crashed 04.09.90. | | 504 | 07 Jun 83 | G-9-505. Crashed 04.04.86 | | 505 | 07 Jun 83 | G-9-506. Crashed 04.04.86 | | 506 | 06 Sep 83 | G-9-507. Crashed 18.12.91 | | 507 | 06 Sep 83 | G-9-508. Crashed 25.04.94 | | 508 | 06 Sep 83 | G-9-509 |
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Indian Air Force No further Hawk deliveries were made after the Abu Dhabi order was fulfilled. Kuwait AF Hawks started being delivered around August, but were not seen at Luqa, probably due to a change in the assembly line from Dunsfold to Northern England. Hawks started landing in Italy, thereby bypassing Malta completely.
After a 22-year gap, several Mk. 132 Hawks again used Malta as a transit point. This version differed from the previous ones in having an elongated nose, and what appears to be strakes along the wing tip.
The aircraft have been listed in alpha-numerical order, according to British military serial number.
| SERIAL No. | ARRIVED | DEPARTED | NOTES | | A3481/ZK122 | 13.12.08 | 14.12.08 | | | A3482/ZK123 | 16.10.08 | 17.10.08 | Call sign WTN116. | | A3483/ZK124 | 05.09.08 | 06.09.08 | | | A3484/ZK125 | 14.12.07 | 15.12.07 | | | A3485/ZK126 | 28.02.08 | | WTN107 | | A3486/ZK127 | 11.02.08 | 12.02.08 | Callsign WTN 105A/B. | | A3487/ZK128 | 09.11.07 | | Written off on 29.04.08. | | A3488/ZK129 | 09.11.07 | | | | A3489/ZK130 | 14.12.07 | 15.12.07 | | | A3491/ZK132 | 01.02.08 | 02.02.08 | | | A3492/ZK133 | 08.05.08 | 09.05.08 | | | A3493/ZK134 | 28.02.08 | | WTN107 | | A3494/ZK135 | 11.02.08 | 12.02.08 | Callsign WTN 105A/B. | | A3495/ZK136 | 01.02.08 | 02.02.08 | | | A3496/ZK137 | 08.05.08 | 09.05.08 | | | A4398/ZK139 | 13.12.08 | 14.12.08 | | | A3499/ZK140 | 05.09.08 | 06.09.08 | | | A3500/ZK141 | 14.08.08 | 15.08.08 | | | A3501/ZK142 | 20.11.08 | | Call sign WTN116. | | G-FRAD | 20.11.08 | | Falcon 20 of FRA. Flew in in formation with A3501 above. Call sign WTN116. | | A3502/ZK143 | 14.08.08 | 15.08.08 | | | A3503/ZK144 | 16.10.08 | 17.10.08 | Call sign WTN116. |
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Indonesian Air Force TNI-AU (Tantara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara -- Indonesian National Armed Forces) aircraft serials have a code prefix indicating the aircraft's basic role. Advanced trainers are prefixed with the code LL-. No.11 Squadron is equipped with the Hawks together with Lockheed T-33s, all based at Jakarta. They also differ from other Hawk export versions by having a smoke trailing devices installed for use during displays.
LL-53O1 was handed over to the Indonesian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, at Dunsfold, on July 10, 1980, and went into service with No. I Training wing, 11 Squadron of the TNI-AU, in September 1980. Their delivery flights to Indonesia were staged through Malta, Egypt, Dubai, Dabolim/Goa, Colombo, Medan and finally Jakarta, arriving there after 6 days.
To date, four Hawks are known to have been destroyed, including LL-5307 and LL-5308, which collided in mid-air over Indonesia, on June 17, 1981.
LL-5301 was flown for some time with an RAF serial, ZB618, while LL-5318, LL-5319 and LL-5320 were finished in the training livery of white/red/light grey scheme, as used by RAF trainers at the time. The previous seventeen were in desert camouflage. No.103 Squadron now operates all the Indonesian Hawks.
| SERIAL No. | DELIVERY DATE | NOTES | | LL-5301 | 01 Sep 80 | c/n 312190 G-9-466 | | LL-5302 | 01 Sep 80 | c/n 312191, G-9-467, crashed 17.09.81 | | LL-5303 | 17 Sep 80 | c/n 312192. Lost on 10.08.83. | | LL-5304 | 17 Sep 80 | c/n 312193. Lost on 22.10.81. | | LL-5305 | 19 Nov 80 | c/n 312194 | | LL-5306 | 19 Nov 80 | c/n 312195 | | LL-5307 | 06 Jan 81 | c/n 312196. Lost on 17.06.81. | | LL-5308 | 06 Jan 81 | c/n 312197. Lost on 17.06.81. | | LL-5309 | 10 Aug 82 | c/n 312256 G-9-494. Camouflaged. | | LL-5310 | 10 Aug 82 | c/n 312257. Camouflaged, lost on 28.03.82. | | LL-5311 | 19 Oct 82 | Lost on 28.03.82. | | LL-5312 | 19 Oct 82 | | | LL-5313 | 15 Mar 83 | G-9-498. Cat 4 damage in 2001. | LL-5314 | 15 Mar 83 | G-9-499 | | LL-5315 | 14 Jun 83 | G-9-500 | | LL-5316 | 14 Jun 83 | G-9-501 | | LL-5317 | 14 Jun 83 | | | LL-5318 | 08 Feb 84 | c/n 312277. Lost on 28.03.82. | | LL-5319 | 06 Mar 84 | c/n 312278 | | LL-5320 | 06 Mar 84 | c/n 312279 | |
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Kenyan Air Force The first export versions of the Hawk to stage via Malta were the T. Mk.52s of the Kenyan Air Force, but only six aircraft, from a total order of twelve, passed through Malta. The Kenyan Hawk differed from other export models in having a braking parachute installed in the tail.
Kenyan AF serial numbers consist of four digits, with figures from 1000 upwards allocated to jet trainers.
| SERIAL No. | DELIVERY DATE | NOTES | | 1001 | Apr 78 | c/n 312178 pi G-9-454. Lost on 11.03.88. | | 1002 | Apr 78 | c/n 312179, pi G-9-455 | | 1003 | Apr 78 | c/n 312180, pi G-9-456. Lost on 26.02.82. | | 1004 | 28 May 80 | c/n 312181, pi G-9-457 | | 1005 | 28 May 80 | c/n 312182, pi G-9-458 | | 1006 | 29 Jul 80 | c/n 312183, pi G-9-459 | | 1007 | 29 Jul 80 | c/n 312184, pi G-9-460 | | 1008 | 28 Aug 80 | c/n 312185, pi G-9-461 | | 1009 | 28 Aug 80 | c/n 312186, pi G-9-462. Lost on 11.11.88. | | 1010 | 06 Feb 81 | c/n 312187, pi G-9-463 | | 1011 | 06 Feb 81 | c/n 312188, pi G-9-464 | | 1012 | 06 Feb 81 | c/n 312189, pi G-9-465 |
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Zimbabwe Air Force Zimbabwe ordered eight Hawks, to be operated by No. 2 squadron, to replace the Vampire FB.5's and T.11's which had reached the end of their flying hours. The first four were damaged in a sabotage attack a few days after their arrival at Thornhill. 602 was written off, 601 was kept in Zimbabwe for repairs, whilst 600 and 603 were shipped back to British Aerospace for repairs to airworthy status. These two Hawks are therefore in the unique position of having staged through Malta twice on a delivery flight.
Five additional Hawks, serial numbers 608-612, were delivered to Zimbabwe between June – September 1992, but these were not seen in Malta.
| SERIAL No. | DELIVERY DATE | NOTES | | 600 | 13 Jul 82 | c/n 312248, G-9-486. Second delivery flight on 17 Oct 84. | | 601 | 13 Jul 82 | c/n 312249, G-9-487 | | 602 | 13 Jul 82 | c/n 312250 G-9-489. Destroyed in guerrilla attack on 25.07.82. | | 603 | 13 Jul 82 | c/n 312251 G-9-489. Second delivery flight on 17 Oct 84. | | 604 | 05 Oct 82 | c/n 312252 G-9-490 | | 605 | 05 Oct 82 | c/n 312253 G-9-491 | | 606 | 05 Oct 82 | c/n 312254 G-9-492 | | 607 | 05 Oct 82 | c/n 312255 G-9-493 |
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Sea Harrier FRS.1
Purchased by the Indian Navy to replace the aging Sea Hawk.
| SERIAL No. |
DELIVERY DATE |
NOTES |
| IN603 |
13 Dec 83 |
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| IN604 |
13 Dec 83 |
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| IN605 |
13 Dec 83 |
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| IN651 |
27 Mar 84 |
T. Mk. 10, arrived with HS.125 G-BBCL |
| IN602 |
10 Jul 84 |
Aircraft departed on 11 July, but had to return due to oxygen trouble. It isn’t clear whether it was one or both aircraft, that had the trouble. Left later in the morning. |
| IN606 |
10 Jul 84 |
As above. |
| IN601 |
05 Oct 84 |
Arrived with 4 Hawks for the Abu Dhabi AF. |
| IN652 |
14 Apr 85 |
Arrived with HS.125 G-GAEL |
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Tornado
Although these aircraft did not land on the original delivery flights to the Saudi Arabia AF, an upgrade programme meant the aircraft landed at Malta’s airport on their way to/from the UK.
| SERIAL No. |
ARRIVED |
DEPARTED |
NOTES |
| 6611 |
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Noted at Luqa Airport on 01.01.01, but unknown to the webmaster whether it was on its own, or in company with another aircraft.
Seen again on 14.12.06 with 6613 on their way to the UK. |
| 6613 |
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As above. |
| 6612 |
13.12.07 |
14.12.07 |
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| 6611 |
09.05.08 |
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Returning to Saudi Arabia, probably departed on the 10th. |
| 7503 |
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08.12.09 |
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| 6631 |
23.04.13 |
24.04.13 |
c/s WTN09. Carried Tornado Sustainment Program titles and UK military serial ZH917. |
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BAe Systems Eurofighter/Typhoons
Royal Oman AF
| SERIAL No. |
ARRIVAL DATE |
DEPARTURE DATE |
NOTES |
| ZR406/215 |
05.02.18 |
06.02.18 |
Dusk arrival. |
| ZR407/216 |
05.02.18 |
06.02.18 |
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Qatar Emiri AF
| SERIAL No. |
ARRIVAL DATE |
DEPARTURE DATE |
NOTES |
| QA406/ZR507 |
30.08.22 |
31.08.22 |
Both aircraft were single-seaters. |
| QA407/ZR508 |
30.08.22 |
31.08.22 |
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Royal Saudi AF
30 years after Strikemasters and Hunters for the Royal Saudi Air Force passed through RAF Luqa, Eurofighters for the same air force again used Malta for re-fuelling stops.
| SERIAL No. |
ARRIVAL DATE |
DEPARTURE DATE |
NOTES |
| ZK060/1001 |
24.05.09 |
25.05.09 |
Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA. |
| ZK061/1002 |
24.05.09 |
25.05.09 |
Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA. |
| ZK062/1003 |
25.08.09 |
26.08.09 |
Accompanied by BAe 146 G-TBAE. |
| ZK063/1004 |
25.08.09 |
26.08.09 |
Accompanied by BAe 146 G-TBAE. |
| ZK064/1005 |
15.10.09 |
17.10.09 |
Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA, which arrived on the 16th, departing on the 17th. |
| ZK065/1006 |
15.10.09 |
17.10.09 |
Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA. |
| ZK066/1007 |
05.10.09 |
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Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA. |
| ZK068/1008 |
05.10.09 |
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Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA. |
| ZK071/303 |
10.06.10 |
12.06.10 |
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| ZK072/304 |
10.06.10 |
12.06.10 |
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| ZK073/305 |
08.10.10 |
09.10.10 |
Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA. |
| ZK074/306 |
08.10.10 |
09.10.10 |
Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA. |
| ZK075/307 |
25.11.09 |
27.11.09 |
A BAe 146 (c/s Tarnish 02) arrived on the 26th. |
| ZK076/308 |
25.11.09 |
27.11.09 |
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| ZK077/309 |
09.12.10 |
13.12.10 |
Departure on the 11th delayed due to a Greek ATC strike. Accompanied by BAe 146, G-BLRA, which arrived on the 10th. |
| ZK078/310 |
09.12.10 |
13.12.10 |
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| ZK089/321 |
25.04.13 |
26.04.13 |
WTN01B. |
| ZK090/322 |
25.04.13 |
26.04.13 |
WTN01A. |
| ZK085/317 |
27.06.13 |
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c/s Tarnish 01A/B. Both aircraft performed two T&G’s before landing. |
| ZK086/318 |
27.06.13 |
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As above. |
| ZK087/319 |
05.09.13 |
06.09.13 |
c/s WTN01A/B. |
| ZK088/320 |
05.09.13 |
06.09.13 |
c/s WTN01A/B. |
| ZK091/323 |
17.10.13 |
18.10.13 |
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| ZK092/324 |
17.10.13 |
18.10.13 |
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| ZK384/1009 |
12.12.13 |
13.12.13 |
Single-seater. |
| ZK388/1011 |
12.12.13 |
13.12.13 |
Two-seater. |
| ZK387/1010 |
27.02.14 |
28.02.14 |
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| ZK385/1012 |
27.02.14 |
28.02.14 |
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| ZK389/1014 |
16.05.14 |
19.05.14 |
Departure delayed because of problems with technical support BAe 146, G-BTAE. |
| ZK390/1015 |
16.05.14 |
19.05.14 |
Departure delayed because of problems with technical support BAe 146, G-BTAE. |
| ZK396/1016 |
07.08.14 |
08.08.14 |
c/s CTO15. |
| ZK391/1018 |
07.08.14 |
08.08.14 |
c/s CTO26. |
| ZK392/1019 |
05.09.14 |
05.09.14 |
Aircraft made a re-fueling stop, instead of the usual night-stop. c/s Tarnish 01. |
| ZK397/1017 |
05.09.14 |
05.09.14 |
Two-seat version. |
| ZK394/1023 |
08.12.14 |
09.12.14 |
FGR.4 version, c/s WTN01B. |
| ZK399/1021 |
08.12.14 |
09.12.14 |
Two-seat version, c/s WTN01B. |
| ZK398/1020 |
21.12.14 |
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Probably a night-stop. |
| ZK386/1013 |
14.05.15 |
15.05.15 |
Night stop. |
| ZK393/1022 |
14.05.15 |
15.05.15 |
Night stop. |
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