CT-155 Hawk
BAE Systems · Canada · first flew 1974 · fighter
The CT-155 Hawk is the Royal Canadian Air Force designation for the BAE Systems Hawk Mk.115 advanced jet trainer, used at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to train NATO and Canadian student pilots on high-performance jets.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.96 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tandem two-seat cockpit with unbroken canopy line
- Single Adour turbofan with broad ventral air intake
- Low swept wing with anhedral on outer panels
Identical to the Hawk 100 series in silhouette: the tandem cockpit with a continuous canopy rail and the distinctive ventral chin intake below the nose are key cues. The low-set swept wing has a notable anhedral droop on the outer sections.
Specifications
- The CT-155 Hawk has a length of 11.96 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.94 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1040 km/h (646 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Canada selected the Hawk to replace its aging Canadair CT-114 Tutor in the advanced trainer role, taking advantage of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) programme. Fourteen Hawk 115s were delivered from 2000 and the type became the backbone of Wings Canada flying training at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. Student pilots from several NATO nations complete advanced jet training on the CT-155 before conversion to front-line types.
Variants
The CT-155 corresponds to the Hawk Mk.115, essentially the Hawk 100 series with Canadian-specific avionics. It shares the advanced cockpit of the 100 series but differs from the ground-attack-optimised Mk.127 Hawk (CT-155 has no weapons training role).
Where you'll see it
The RCAF CT-155 fleet is operated by 419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, supporting NATO Flying Training in Canada. Student pilots from the UK, Denmark, Hungary, Singapore, and other nations have trained on the type alongside RCAF students.
Related aircraft
- BAE Systems Hawk
- BAe Hawk 200
- Hawk 109
- Hawk 129
- Atlas Impala Mk II
- BAe Hawk
- BAe Hawk T.1
- Dassault Super Etendard
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