BAe Systems Hawk

by Andy Evans

SAM Publications

Reviewed by Ken Bowes

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The Air Data series from SAM Publications, the publishers of the magazines Scale Aviation Modeller International and Model Aircraft Monthly is yet another new modelling reference series, providing colour photos including some walk arounds, limited text and a range of colour profiles as it steps through the widely exported Hawk family from the original T Mk 1 to the latest Hawk 132 currently being produced as a new lead in fighter trainer for India.

This volume has been put together by Andy Evans, a writer with a long association with the Hawk aircraft and its manufacturer as evidenced by the array of images from all operators, many of which appear in test flights over Britain.

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Unfortunately the whole package left me somewhat unexcited. Perhaps there is an overwhelming number of such publications competing for attention these days but despite my own interest in the aircraft I found its approach pedestrian. Some of the more interesting operators, such as Indonesia, whose use of Hawks against separatist movements drew world attention, barely rate a mention.

That said there is a useful swag of detail photographs, although considerably less than I expected from pre-publication publicity and five pages of colour profiles that may be of some use to modellers, but as they are largely side profiles even this is marginal. So all in all a volume of limited appeal unless you are a Hawk nut.

Finally it has to be mentioned that the book has been bound with wire rings on the spine. Perhaps SAM Publications has a plan to market a binder to keep these books in as the series grows, this however remains to be seen.

Thanks to SAM Publications for the review sample