BAe Hawk T.Mk2

Thanks to tucan for taking these pictures.

Background

The Hawk T2 is a trainer and light attack aircraft in serivce with the RAF, Saudi and Omani Air Forces. It is built to replace the earlier Hawk T1. This fictionalized version represents a possible Hawk used in the light attack role by the RAF.

The Hawk T2 is primarily used by the RAF to train fast jet pilots to proficiency in all areas. It does this by simulating systems like radar and EW, without actually having to carry them. This helps keep the cost down while still allowing the pilot to train skills that would be impossible in the Hawk T1A.

Controls

I tried to make the aircraft as simple to fly as possible. I've included a basic automatic roll trimmer, although it only works effectively with a small asymmetric load. The flight model isn't that realistic, but the top speed should be somewhat accurate and the aircraft accelerates at a reasonable rate. Trimming is very important to keep this plane flying level.

• Roll/Pitch/Yaw/Throttle - Standard
• Airbrake - Activate1
• Flaps - VTOL Down
• Pitch Trim - Trim
• Drogue Chute - Activate2
• Canopy - VTOL Up
• Ejection Seat - Activate5
• Jettison Air-to-Ground - Activate6
• Jettison Air-to-Air - Activate7

Weapons

This Hawk carries a loadout best suited to close air support or strike missions. Precision guided munitions can be targeted using the nose mounted FLIR camera and laser designator.

• ASRAAM - A wing mounted air-to-air dogfight missile. Designed as a replacement for the AIM-9L, it is highly maneuverable with high off-boresight capability. Best used within roughly 5NM.
• APKWS - A precision guidance kit fitted to a standard Hydra 70 2.75" rocket turns it into an effective and highly accurate weapon against light armoured vehicles. 7 APKWS are mounted into a LAU-68 pod mounted on an outer pylon. The limited angle of the nose-mounted targeting sytem means that you must keep the aircraft on target until the rocket hits its target. Has a secondary use as a makeshift air-to-air weapon.
• GBU-59 Paveway II - This is a precision guided 250lb bomb. Originally cancelled due to its small explosive payload, it was recently reintroduced to arm light attack aircraft like the Afghan Air Force's Super Tucanos. 4 are carried on the inner pylons on dual racks. Since this is a glide weapon, the higher and faster it is dropped from the more likely it will be to hit. Drop when the horizontal distance to the target is no more than a few NM away and above around 5000 feet.
• ADEN 30mm Gun Pod - The ADEN cannon is an effective tool for close air support as well as in a dogfight. The 30mm ammunition is best used against small vehicles and enemy aircraft. 150 rounds are carried in a gun pod under the belly.

Features

• Frontal Cockpit - The front seat position contains a detailed cockpit with most of the essential instruments. I didn't make the HUD.
• Detailed Exterior - The Hawk has a realistic livery and detailing, although the tail number doesn't match the livery :(
• Functional Ejection Seat - The ejection seat will launch you and your WSO to safety and automatically deploy the parachute.
• Custom Landing Gear - The landing gear is strong enough to survive a carrier landing if flown well, even though this plane is not carrier capable.

Thanks for having a look at my build!

Feel free to use the weapons from this build in your own. To remove them, just disconnect the extruding detacher from the pylon or fuselage of the plane. As far as I can tell, the ASRAAM can be mirrored, but the GBU-59 will require you to reconnect the short end of each of the fin rotators to the short end of the detacher every time you place it.

Since this is the first build I've posted I'd really appreciate any feedback you have going into my next build, which will most likely be an F-5 which I will try and do in a slightly lower part count.

Disclaimer: I've only tested this on low physics so I have no clue if it will work on the high physics setting.

Gallery