The Royal Air Force (RAF) No. 100 Squadron at RAF Leeming has revealed the last commemorative tail art on one of their jets. The No. 100 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire, UK, and operates the British Aerospace Hawk T.1 providing 'aggressor' aircraft simulating enemy forces and providing essential training to the RAF front-line units.

Last year the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has confirmed that the out-of-service date (OSD) for the Hawk T.1 has been brought forward from 2025 to March 31, 2022.

According to the post on RAF Leeming Facebook page in the near future, the aircraft will be painted red and it will join the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team the Red Arrows.

The tail depicts the first ‘blood and brains’ 100 Squadron flag which was acquired during World War 1, morphed into the iconic crest depicting a skull and cross bones and was formally approved by King George in 1937.

The red of the tail represents the Squadron’s current role of providing ‘Red Air’ threat replication to train the Royal Air Force’s frontline combat Squadrons. The blue and yellow flashes represent the official Squadron colours.

After closure, XX221 is designated for the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, where it will be painted red.

The BAe Hawk T1 is a fully aerobatic, low-wing, transonic, two-seat training aircraft that is expected to remain in service until 2030 as the mount of the RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, based at RAF Scampton/RAF Waddington.