Service station is new home for RAF Scampton's ex-Red Arrows Hawk jet gate guardian
The former iconic gate guardian of RAF Scampton has found a new home.
Flown by the Red Arrows, the Hawk jet has started a new life on display at Coneygarth Services in North Yorkshire after it sold for £90,000 at auction following the closure of its home at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire last year.
To the delight of avid Red Arrows fans, Rob Exelby, managing director at Exelby Services Ltd, told Forces News: "It will be immediately visible by all visitors and customers who drive into our Coneygarth Services."
Mr Exelby added: "We're planning to install some landscaping and a picnic area around the aircraft so avid Red Arrows fans can see this stunning aircraft up close in all its glory.
"It's already generated a lot of interest from our surrounding area and regular visitors of our services coming out to see it."
He added: "It really does have to be seen in the flesh to appreciate what amazing aircraft these Hawks are and, of course, in the famous colours and heritage of the Red Arrows!"
The BAE Hawk T1A XX306 was the last jet to depart RAF Scampton before its closure last year.
RAF Scampton was the home of the famous Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team for 20 years and closed at the end of 2022 – with the Red Arrows moving to RAF Waddington, also in Lincolnshire.
'A cheeky bid'
The new owner of the aircraft said he first heard about the Red Arrow auction courtesy of one of his customers on Facebook.
Mr Exelby said: "I grew up next to RAF Leeming and been fascinated with military and RAF aircraft ever since those childhood days watching Tornados, Hawks and even the odd Vulcan.
"After seeing the beauty of it in person and fully understanding the incredible history of the aircraft since it joined the Red Arrows in 1980, I thought I would have a cheeky bid on the auction, albeit perhaps not really expecting to win it as I imagined a museum or avid collector would snap it up.
"We like to try and have a few quirky attractions at our service areas. For instance, we have a Ferrari F1 car on our A19 Northbound Shell Services and with our Coneygarth Services being so close to RAF Leeming, I thought it would be great to have something there to honour the airbase as many of our local customers work there and have grown up next to it.
"After placing my final bid of £90,000 it was an amazing surprise to see that we'd won the auction. My brain immediately went into overdrive to decide where we'd locate it and what work would need doing to it."
'Our very own gate guardian'
Mr Exelby noted that "thankfully it's in very good condition, considering it's seven years older than me!"
The aircraft has had its paintwork professionally detailed and protected by Reep Yorkshire, based in Knaresborough, as well as some of the decals refreshed.
"The next plans are to drop out the landing gears so we can fabricate a frame to have it mounted in the air on a pedestal next to the entrance of our Shell service area at Coneygarth Services on the A1(M) at Leeming Bar; Our very own gate guardian!" Mr Exelby said.
He said it was a "shame" that the Red Arrow jet would no longer call Lincolnshire and RAF Scampton its home.
But Mr Exelby added he really hopes they "can do it the justice it deserves in our beautiful little patch of North Yorkshire, less than a mile away from RAF Leeming".
He added: "RAF Leeming was once touted as a possible home for the Red Arrows. Unfortunately, that didn't come to fruition though it makes us immensely proud that at least one of them can make it a permanent home in the area."
One Twitter user was pleasantly surprised by the "random spot" of the Red Arrow at its new home.
Chris Whitehead (@ChrisW134246) shared his reaction below, in which you can hear one person say: "It's epic that, innit?"
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