"Jim Brown" wrote in message
om...

Ok I'm just an armchair pilot but considering the big step up between
a trainer jet of any description and a front line jet, why not do away
with fast jet trainers totally? Initial training could be completed on
something like a PC-21 which is claimed to replicate a fast jet
trainer in everything but speed and then the trainee pilots can
continue training on two seater versions of whatever frontline jet
they'll be flying. The cost of the extra two seaters should be covered
by not having to buy/support the fast jet trainers.

Comments please?

Sure. The fast jet trainer is there to shorten the gap between elementary
flying training and going into the fast jet world. The Hawk is used by the
RAF as an advanced jet trainer. It is third in the line of aircraft that a
pilot will fly before going onto the likes of Tornado or Harrier. THe first
begins at Elementary Flight Training, EFT, with the Grob Tutor. They then
progress to the Tucano and then to Hawk, where they learn operational
tactics such as air combat manuevres, air to ground combat and low level
flying. it is an operational weapons platform where they can fire AIM9,,
rockets and drop dumb bombs. The Tucano T1 does not have this function and
as such , the Hawk is required in this sense to provide that capability to
the pilot before advancing to their operational type.

The Hawk 128 will feature what is required to provide pilots with the
operating environment for moden fast jets such as the Typhoon, GR4 and
eventuall JSF. That will include the glass cockpit, HOTAS and improved
navaids like GPS.

The best way to train pilots for fast jet is probably to put them into an
advanced jet trainer, rather than a turbo prop. I am sure there are pilots
out there who will concur with me, but i cant say for sure - i only get to
fix what they break, not break them myself!

Hope this helps

BMFull