Hawks of Romania
The Hawks of Romania is a civil aerobatic display team known for their thrilling performances in a mix of two-seat Extra 300L and single-seat Extra 330SC aircraft. Established in 2007, the team took the place of various unofficial aerobatic groups within the Romanian Aero Club. Over the years, the Hawks of Romania have showcased their skills at numerous Romanian Airshows and various events across Europe. The team calls the Strejnicu Airfield in Prahova County, located 56 km north of Bucharest, their home base.
All aircraft participating in the airshows proudly showcase the vibrant colours of the Romanian flag, adorned with striking hues of yellow, red, and blue. Each aircraft is further enhanced with the addition of white smoke generators, adding an extra element of spectacle to their performances in the skies.
The Hawks of Romania team is a key component of the Romanian Aero Club, which receives sponsorship from the Ministry of Transport. The Extra 300L aerobatic aircraft have been a valuable addition to the Romanian Aero Club's inventory for over two decades, beginning in 1999.
Extra 300L
The Extra 300L is a Lycoming AEIO-540-powered two-seat aircraft, with a low-mounted wing and shorter fuselage. More Extra 300L ("L" is a two-seater version) aircraft have been produced than any other model. Its wing is mounted at the bottom of the fuselage, with its span reduced from 26 to 24 ft (7.9 to 7.3 m). Improved ailerons boost the 300L's roll rate to 400° per second. All 300Ls are fully certified under FAA and European Joint Aviation Authorities regulations. The design of the Extra 300 was based on the Extra 230, an early 1980s monoplane having a wing made of wood. The Extra 300 has a welded steel tube fuselage covered in aluminium and fabric. The midset wing has a carbon fibre composite spar and carbon composite skins. A symmetrical airfoil, mounted with a zero angle of incidence, provides equal performance in both upright and inverted flight. The landing gear is fixed taildragger style with composite main legs and fibreglass wheel pants. The powerplant is a fuel-injected Lycoming AEIO-540 which produces 300 horsepower (224 kW). The first two-seat Extra 300 made its maiden flight on 6 May 1988, with German type certification following on 16 May 1990. The single-seat Extra 300S flew on 4 March 1992. The Extra 300 is stressed for ±10 G with one person on board and ±8 G with two. Some Extra 300s are certified in the experimental category in the U.S., while others are certified in the aerobatic category.
Extra 330SC
The Extra 330SC is a Lycoming AEIO-580-powered single-seat aircraft with improved roll rate and easier roll stops, designed specifically for Unlimited category competition.
The design of the Extra 300 was based on the Extra 230, an early 1980s monoplane having a wing made of wood. The Extra 300 has a welded steel tube fuselage covered in aluminium and fabric. The midset wing has a carbon fibre composite spar and carbon composite skins. A symmetrical airfoil, mounted with a zero angle of incidence, provides equal performance in both upright and inverted flight. The landing gear is fixed taildragger style with composite main legs and fibreglass wheel pants. The powerplant is a Lycoming AEIO-580 EXP which produces 325 horsepower.
The Extra 300 is stressed for ±10 G with one person on board and ±8 G with two. Some Extra 300s are certified in the experimental category in the U.S., while others are certified in the aerobatic category.