British Aerospace Hawk T2 (ZK027 / R) from the Royal Air Force (RAF) at the RIAT 2019, RAF Fairford (United Kingdom)
The British Aerospace Hawk T2 is a two-seat advanced jet training aircraft with mission avionics that are representative of front-line types. It is used to train pilots for the RAF's Tornado GR4, Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II forces. The Hawk has tandem seats, with full controls available in the front and rear cockpit. Duplication of essential controls with appropriate override facilities is provided in the rear cockpit, for example store jettison, landing gear and flaps. The aircraft's "glass" cockpit avionics suite provides a realistic advanced fast jet training platform. It allows trainees to be immersed in the more complex tactical environments. The latest version of the massively successful Hawk trainer family, the T2 is in RAF service with No. 4 Flying Training School and, providing the aircraft for RIAT 2019, No XXV (F) Squadron at RAF Valley on the island of Anglesey.
The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is the world's largest military air show, held annually over the third weekend in July,
usually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.
The show typically attracts a total of 150.000 to 160.000 spectators over the weekend.