The end for Red Arrows Hawk T1 XX260??

[GARYKING]

First of all I'd like to appologise if anyone finds this thread disrespectful in light of the current situation with the Red Arrows. No offence it meant by it.

This thread has come about after it was bought to my attention that this Hawk might never leave Blackpool, I saw it last week parked on the disused runway, then she dissapered, so I thought she'd been fixed and flown home. Obviously not as found out when I went up to photo a Civvi Cessna Citation X that was night stopping on my way to work this morning.

XX260 Landed at Blackpool safely during the Blackpool Airshow after calling 'PAN PAN', before finally calling 'MAYDAY'. She suffered a major bird strike that effected the Hydrolics and Fuel systems.

It appears that Blackpool was her final landing, and is now being broken/dismantled on site.

I have a few shots of her from previous meetings the first being at Farnborough last year, then two from Blackpool when they were in for the Southport Airshow at end of July.

During the Southport show XX260 was flown by the late Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging. RIP.

























Shame they can't put her is a museum

C+C

Gary

[Mike]

Those shots look like it's being dismantled very carefully Gary, does anyone know where it's gone ?

Very interesting shots by the way.

[GARYKING]

Those shots look like it's being dismantled very carefully Gary, does anyone know where it's gone ?
:

These were taken this morning, she was still in the same condition on my way home from work this evening, I would have a guess that within a week there will be nothing left to see. Wings look ready to take away as they are just supported on stands

[steve149c]

Is she being dismantled to move home by road?

Cheers

Steve

[ajw]

I do not know anything more than anyone else, but the RAF very often take planes apart that are damaged away from their home base to repair them in their own hangar. If the damage is too extensive or expensive to repair in the field then they will transport them by road to their base.

[tom177]

Been down to see her tonight, still sat in the same location.

There doesn't really look like there's a lot left to be dismantled, so could be on the move soon?

Tom

[golfromeo]

apparently '260' suffered major engine blade and intake damage from the bird strike ,and as she had only 50 flying hours left the decision was made to strip down for spares

[f-4]

XX260 was one of the first Hawks delivered to the Reds in 1979 - don't think it has been used outside of the unit in its 32-year career.

[chrisward123]

Great shots, hope she is still there on Wednesday when I am flying out of Blackpool!

Christian

[SCARECROW]

Guess it'll be at Shawbury this week then !

[kevshore]

Is that some serious corrosion in image 10 just above the strap to the right? Or just the way it looks?

Kev.

[GARYKING]

Guess it'll be at Shawbury this week then !

Its going somewhere in the next 24 hrs, possibly tonight while the airfield is shut. These are parked up ready, no crane in sight though.

I'm hoping they leave it till the morning, I am day off so can get some shots loading it, then racing a few bridges down the M55 for a few more.

[Mike]

Good catch Gary, have you rented them to the RAF - I see you have your surname on the trailers ?

[exleckie]

golfromeo Wrote:

apparently '260' suffered major engine blade and intake damage from the bird strike

That would explain why you can't see any impact damage on the airframe. Saw a GR.1 at Marham years ago that took a bird down the intake, it made a right mess. The intake had to be re-skinned.

kevshore Wrote:

Is that some serious corrosion in image 10 just above the strap to the right? Or just the way it looks?

Looks like old Hyd oil and dye from the smoke system.

[GARYKING]

Good catch Gary, have you rented them to the RAF - I see you have your surname on the trailers ?

Ha Ha Ha

[jag636]

For your information the trailers were built by King trailers a small company in Market Harborough on the riverside estate and they still are doing some orders on and off for the MOD even in these cash strapped days.

[Tiger Tim]

It amazes me that the wing is only held on by four "bolts"

[Wallace]

Could that be the dye from the diesel that has caused the staining?

Interesting set of photos. There is money in a genuine Red Arrows Hawk. Knowing the MoD they will strip it for spares and put the rest up for disposal.... or it will go to a museum as a stripped out fuselage, I hope.

[CartoonPilot]

She arrived at RAF Shawbury yesterday 24th August 11... If she's not going to fly again she'd would look great next to the Reds Gnat at Cosford

[rig_pig]

Interesting pics, i've always fancied a posting to ARTF doing this sort of work. A rigger's dream!

It amazes me that the wing is only held on by four "bolts"

You'd be surprised how common this is! A Merlin rotor head is only held on by 1 nut (albeit a darn big one!). I remember being told once as an apprentice how a 1/4" bolt can lift a double decker bus!