For sale: Ex-Red Arrows Hawk jet, pre-loved as RAF Scampton's gate guardian, offers over £40,000
A Hawk jet flown by the Red Arrows has gone up for auction after the closure of its home at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.
The aircraft flew for 32 years before retirement saw its role change to that of 'gate guardian' at the Royal Air Force base.
Auction site GPSV, owned by the company GP Specialist Vehicles Ltd, based in Ingleton, North Yorkshire, says it is one of the original Hawk jets delivered to the Red Arrows and has listed the plane with a current bid of £40,000.
An RAF spokesperson said: "The Hawk T1 Gate Guardian is public property. As is standard practice, military equipment which is surplus to requirements is disposed of appropriately to realise the best capital value of the equipment, in this instance by the Defence Equipment Sales Agency."
The Red Arrows' T1 Hawk jet is a world-famous icon of the Royal Air Force and has retired from frontline service.
The aircraft has wowed crowds during displays around the world and is renowned for its nimbleness and coloured vapour trails.
It trained every RAF fast jet pilot for almost 50 years, and served around the world with the British and other air forces in roles from air defence interceptor to strike aircraft.
Even though the Hawk was never used in a frontline role by the UK as a fighter, it played a vital part in training British forces for war.
Due to its speed and flexibility, the Hawk was ideal for training troops and simulating missile exercises and air raids for the Royal Navy.
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team will take to the skies for displays on more than 40 occasions in 2023.
Here's where you can go and see them.
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