RAF Hawk T2 jets cleared to resume flying, Chief of Air Staff confirms

Hawk T2 jets are "no longer grounded," the head of the Royal Air Force told MPs on the Commons Defence Committee.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston said the pause ended yesterday and the fleet of fast jet training aircraft is no longer grounded.

The RAF had paused training flights on its fleet of Hawk T2 jets after a "recent issue on the runway" involving a TMk2 engine.

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The update was provided by the Chief of the Air Staff as he appeared before MPs on the Commons Defence Committee to face questions about the state of the Royal Air Force.

An RAF spokesperson confirmed last week that flying was temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure, pending the results of a technical investigation.

The RAF Hawk T2 training jet – like its T1 sister – is a fully aerobatic, low-wing, transonic, two-seat training aircraft.

Hawk T2 specifications:

Powerplant: One 6,500lb st (28.91kN) Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 951 turbofan

Length: 40ft 9in (12.43m)

Height: 13ft 1in (3.98m)

Wingspan: 32ft 7in (9.94m)

Wing area: 179.64sqft (16.70m2)

Maximum take-off weight: 20,000lb (9,100kg)