LIFtoff

Key upgrades to the Hawk will ensure it is better able to train the fifth-gen fighter pilots of the future

Four decades ago as the Air Force was on the cusp of transitioning its frontline fighter force into the 21st century as it looked to replace the Mirage with a newgeneration fighter, the very first issue of Australian Aviation also looked ahead to see what advanced trainers the next generation of RAAF fighter pilots would learn their trade on.

Jim Thorn’s ‘Macchi, Hawk or CASA?’ feature felt that the Italianbuilt Aermacchi MB-339 and the British Hawker Siddeley Hawk were the serious options as future jet trainers to replace the RAAF’s Macchi MB‑326Hs, while Spain’s CASA 101 was something of an outsider.