Royal Air Force Valley introduced the Hawk T.Mk 1 into service when No. 4 Flying Training School (FTS) took two aircraft on November 4, 1976. They were assigned to No. 1 Squadron, Central Flying School, the first unit fully re-equipped, since it trained instructors for the RAF’s extensive flying training system. The Hawks have flown with various other second-line RAF units as well as the Royal Navy and various government establishments, but the type’s light-blue primary operator outside the training community and the Red Arrows (who re-equipped with the Hawk for the 1980 season) has been 100 Sqn.