ВАС (ВАе) Strikemaster and 145

ВАС 145 and Strikemaster

Origin: Hunting/BAC (now British Aerospace), UK.

Type: Two-seat light tactical aircraft and trainer.

Engine: 3,4101b (1547kg) thrust Rolls-Royce Viper 535 turbojet. Dimensions: Span 36ft 10in (11 -23m); length 33ft 8iin (10-27m); height 10ft 11£in (3-34m).

Weights: Empty 6,270lb (2840kg): loaded (clean) 9,200lb (4170kg): maximum 11,5001b (5210kg).

Performance: Maximum speed 481 mph (774km/h): maximum speed at sea level 450mph (726km/h); initial climb (max fuel, clean) 5,250ft (1600m)/min: service ceiling 44,000ft (13,410m): ferry range 1,615 miles (2600km): combat radius with 3,3001b weapon load 145 miles (233km). Armament: Two 7-62mm FN machine guns fixed firing forwards with 550 rounds each: wide range of stores to maximum of 3,0001b (1 360kg) on four underwing strongpoints.

History: First flight (Jet Provost) 16 June 1954: (Strikemaster) 26 October 1 967: first delivery 1968.

Users: (Jet Provost) Iraq, Kuwait, Rhodesia, S Yemen, Sri Lanka, Sudan, UK, Venezuela: (Strikemaster) Ecuador, Kenya, Kuwait, New Zealand, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sudan, S Yemen.

Development: The Percival Provost basic trainer flew in February 1950. Hunting then produced a jet version, and flew this in June 1954. Subse­quently the Hunting (later ВАС) Jet Provost became a successful basic trainer made in great numbers for the RAF and many overseas countries, and more powerful pressurised versions are still one of BAC’s current products. From this was developed the ВАС.145 multi-role trainer/attack aircraft, which in turn was developed into the highly refined Strikemaster. With a

more powerful Viper engine, the Strikemaster proved to be a great world­wide success. It has side-by-side ejection seats, and the ability to operate from the roughest airstrip whilst carrying a combat load three times a typical bomber’s load in the 1930s and any desired equipment fit. The Strikemaster has set a world record for the number of repeat orders placed by its export customers. In early 1977 there were no plans to install the most powerful Viper, the Mk 632, because this would reduce time between overhauls and increase cost without meeting any requirement expressed by a customer. In 1973-76 ВАС refurbished 177 RAF Jet Provosts, in the course of which VOR, DME and ILS were installed.

Left: One of the 16 Strikemaster Mk 88s serving in a light strike and training role with RNZAF No 14 Sqn based at Ohakea.

Below left: Kuwait is one of the several states whose Strikemasters — in this case designated Mk 83 – have seen real action.

Below: Another air force whose Strikemasters have been fully used is the Sultan of Oman’s; note bomb and Sura rockets on this Mk 82.