The first such extra day’s flying by the resident fast jet trainers is this upcoming Saturday, March 11.
An MOD spokesperson told Key.Aero that the twin pressures of availability issues with the Hawk T2 and its engine along with the need to supply the frontline fast jet force with pilots led to this move.
The Hawk T2s, operated by IV and XXV (F) Squadrons, at RAF Valley on Anglesey were grounded in January this year for a period. It is understood this was because of the failure and subsequent ingestion of a blade on the jet’s Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 951 engine.
