Saudi Hawks to return to Athens Flying Week in 2024
The organizers of the Athens Flying Week have announced that the Saudi Hawks, the aerobatic team of the Royal Saudi Air Force, will be returning to the event on September 14-15, 2024.
The Saudi Hawks are a renowned aerobatic team that operates seven Hawk Mk.65 & Mk.65A jets. These aircraft are painted in green and white and are equipped with smoke generators in white, green, and red colors. The team is an integral part of No.88 Squadron and is stationed at King Faisal Air Base located in Tabuk.
This upcoming event might be the last chance for spectators to witness the Saudi Hawks' display in Europe on their current Hawk Mk.65 & Mk.65A before the team makes the transition to the new Hawk Mk.165, which is an export version of the Royal Air Force’s Hawk 128 (known in British service as the Hawk T.2).
Saudi Hawks at RIAT 2023
Saudi Hawks
On June 6, 1998, a new No. 88 Squadron known as the "Saudi Hawks Aerobatic Team" was formed at King Abdulaziz Air Base (Dhahran) by Gen. Abdulaziz Henaidy, the Royal Saudi Air Force's chief of staff, with the support of Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz (Minister of Defense and Aviation). The team is the official Royal Saudi Air Force's demonstration team, equipped with BAE Hawk Mk.65 and 65A jet trainers.
The Saudi Hawks made their airshow debut in January 1999 in Riyadh, the Saudi Kingdom's capital, as part of Saudi Arabia's 100th anniversary celebrations. Initially, the team started performing with six smoke-capable BAE Hawk Mk.65A and Mk.65s, all modified by BAE Systems and wearing the team's eye-catching green and white demonstration colours. However, they later expanded to seven jets in 2014.
Despite the idea for the team dating back to the 1980s, the Saudi Hawks were officially formed in 1998, and soon after, the team and various RSAF Hawk squadrons moved to King Faisal Air Base (Tabuk) in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The team has undergone extensive training and development under the supervision of experienced pilots, including those who have previously served with the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force's aerobatic team.
Since 2011, the Saudi Hawks have been regular visitors to airshows in Europe, performing in Greece, Austria, Malta, France, Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Poland, and the UK, as well as at events across the Middle East. Their displays feature a range of breathtaking manoeuvres, including formation flying, rolls, loops, and dynamic synchro pair displays, all executed with precision and skill.
The Saudi Hawks have often been compared to the Red Arrows, not only because of the similar aircraft types that they operate but also because of the shared expertise of ex-Red Arrows pilots who have been involved in training and supervising the team. This has resulted in the two displays sharing similar manoeuvres and a familiar flying style.
In February 2024, the team received their first Hawk Mk. 165 aircraft, marking the team's 25th anniversary. With this new addition to their fleet, the Saudi Hawks will become the second aerobatic team to fly a T.2-generation Hawk, following in the footsteps of India's Surya Kiran, who began flying the Hawk Mk.132 (a lighter, lower-cost version of the Hawk Mk.128/T.2) in 2015. The team's new aircraft will undoubtedly enhance their aerial displays and ensure they continue to amaze and entertain audiences worldwide.
