Just a week after revealing this year’s Tucano display scheme and with the start of the UK airshow season rapidly approaching, it’s our pleasure to bring you a first sighting of the 2011 Hawk Display aircraft.
The scheme is, in Jules’ own words “relatively simple, hopefully effective and definitely not too costly.” A nod to schemes of old rather than the exuberance of recent years, Jules is happy to concede that while the inspiration did indeed come from Hawk displays of years gone by, it was also the result of the fairly tight time frame in which the team was working.
“By the time I was selected for the role the scheme probably should have already been approved to be honest. My priority was designing my actual display sequence, obviously, but I did want to get a colour scheme sorted if I could.
“The Union Jack has featured prominently of late but I wanted to do something a little more along the lines of some of the Hawk schemes from a while back such as Pete Sharp’s aircraft in 2001. I liked the idea of the ribbon patterns down the sides of the fuselage.”
That inspiration moved a stage further when Jules received an email from Cpl Gordon Barnes at RAF Brampton. Gordon not only wanted to offer Jules his congratulations on being selected for the job but had also, entirely in his own time, put together some ideas for possible designs. One of them, featuring arrow-heads on the aircraft, definitely generated some interest.
“That one in particular struck me and I thought it looked pretty cool, so I decided to show them to the Boss. He agreed there was something there so we asked Gordon to refine the design and simplify it a little.
“What we’ve ended up with is perfect I think – the colours are right, it matches my initial inspiration, the crowd will see something from every angle and it’s one that can be done at minimal cost which is very important.”
As you can see, Jules’ aircraft will represent RAF Valley as a whole with the Station’s 70th anniversary falling this year (it is also 208 Squadron’s 95th) and this season’s display will be proudly supporting RAFA – The Royal Air Force Association charity.
Her display meanwhile is fully aerobatic, not a return to the role demo which crowds saw for the second half of 2010.
“It’s a completely new sequence which I designed from scratch this year. I have to say that I love flying it and am already excited to get things started at Abingdon on the 8th May.”
Jules will certainly be flying the flag for the whole Royal Air Force this season and, as a Tornado GR.4 pilot, also has current operations very much in mind.
“Despite everything that has been going on, all the cuts and such like, the RAF is getting on with the job at hand. There is a small part of me wishing I could I could be part of what the GR.4 force is doing at the moment but I’m proud of them all and I’ve been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to fly the display and promote the work we are doing so I’m not complaining!
“Essentially I can’t wait for people to see the aircraft and the display and I’m really looking forward to it.”
GAR wants to interact with its readers so if you have a question for the author or a comment to make on this feature, please click on the button below. The best comments will appear right here on GAR.
2011-04-29 - sam
I love the colour and my brother Gordon's done a great job on the design. And the whole family are very proud of him - how many people can say they have done anything like this in there life time? He's not a designer, he just an ordinary RAF man who is proud of what he does, drew some designs and showed them his boss.
2011-04-26 - Sam Whatling
Also not to keen on this new design. Its supposed to be a display aircraft and be able to dazzle the crowd by its maneuvers but i would rather see a move vibrant plane rolling about the sky. Hawk designs always have an obsession with black, dont they?
2011-04-11 - Dave Patterson
I think Jules hit it on the head, looks good without being to costly, something that needs taking into consideration in this time of cut backs.
Go get em girl, am sure it will be an excellent display, as always.
All the best for the display season.
2011-04-08 - Adrian Balch
Not too keen on this, compared with previous years as there is too much black paint remaining. This year's special scheme Tucano is brilliant with all black paint completely removed and replaced by red, white, blue and silver. Not sure that the thin red/white/blue markings would stand out well when seen in flight. Was hoping for a bolder scheme?
2011-04-08 - Paul Varcoe
Excellent article. Always look forward to the Hawk display. I hope Jules knows that without the Tornado and Typhoon displays this year, all eyes will be on her!
If you would like to discuss using any of our imagery or feature content please contact us.