The BAE Systems Hawk TMk1 entered service with the RAF in 1976 with a planned 20 year life. Through a life extension programme the out of service date was extended to 2010 and for several units this is likely to be further extended. The Hawk TMk1/1A OLM programme has been central to most of the activities that have demonstrated and support the structural integrity of the aircraft's use beyond its original design assumptions. This paper describes the instrumentation of the two OLM aircraft and the various phases of data gathering since 1997. It presents the principal objectives of the programme and some specific findings that impacted or informed the management of the fleet. Finally, the paper compares the Hawk TMk1/1A OLM system with the Fatigue Monitoring System (FMS) which is fitted to all new build Hawks, including the Hawk Mk128 aircraft which will enter RAF service in 2008.
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