A Trio of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) British Aerospace (BAe) Hawk 127 Jets Arrive into Rockhampton Airport

On Friday 12 July, a trio of  Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) British Aerospace (BAe) Hawk 127 jet training aircraft were photographed arriving into Rockhampton Airport presumably to participate in the joint Military Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 (TS19). They looked to fly up direct from RAAF Base Williamtown near Newcastle in New South Wales.

The were identified as A27-18, A27-22 and A27-13 and were heard to use the one radio callsign of "Bobcat", although separated to "Bobcat 41, 42 and 43" and they landed.

The three Hawks are flown by No. 76 Flight Training Squadron, part of No. 78 Wing, out of RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales.

The squadron is organised into two flights. Training Flight provides introductory fighter training to pilots who have been trained to operate jet aircraft by No. 79 Squadron at RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia. After completing this course the pilots are posted to either No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit to be converted to F/A-18A aircraft or No. 6 Squadron to learn to fly F/A-18F Super Hornets. Operations Flight provides close air support training for the Army and fleet support training for the Navy.

Sincere thanks local plane spotters Daniel B and 'IAD' for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos of these great little visitors to Rocky!

Photos taken by Daniel Bishop and 'IAD'  ©