Английская Википедия:BAC Strikemaster

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The BAC 167 Strikemaster is a British jet-powered training and light attack aircraft. It was a development of the Hunting Jet Provost trainer, itself a jet engined version of the Percival Provost, which originally flew in 1950 with a radial piston engine.

Design and development

The BAC 167 Strikemaster is essentially an armed version of the Jet Provost T Mk 5; the Strikemaster was modified with an uprated engine, wing hardpoints capable of carrying four 500 pound Mk82 bombs, two machine guns under the intakes, uprated flap system with two jacks, larger airbrake jacks, new communication and navigation gear, different electrical system, canopy breakers on the ejection seats, and a revised fuel system including tip tanks on the wing tips. First flown in 1967, the aircraft was marketed as a light attack or counter-insurgency aircraft, but most large-scale purchasers were air forces wanting an advanced trainer, although Ecuador, Oman and Yemen have used their aircraft in combat. A total of 146 were built.

Operational history

The Strikemaster was capable of operating from rough air strips, with dual ejection seats suitable even for low-altitude escape, and it was therefore widely used by third-world nations. Operations by the type were restricted by most military users after the Royal New Zealand Air Force found fatigue cracking in the wings of its aircraft. Many aircraft retired by Botswana, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and Singapore are in museums and private collections.

The Strikemaster was deployed by the Royal Air Force of Oman on several occasions during the Dhofar Rebellion, including a notable appearance providing Close Air Support during the Battle of Mirbat. Three Strikemasters were shot down over the course of the war, including one lost to an SA-7 missile.

The Ecuadorian Air Force deployed the Strikemaster during the brief 1995 Cenepa War, flying ground sorties against Peruvian positions. An Ecuadorian Strikemaster crashed during a training mission in the Northern Border area, near Colombia, on 25 March 2009. Both pilots ejected; one later died of injuries received during the rescue attempt.[1]

Variants

Файл:14SquadronRNZAFStrikemaster.JPG
Photographed 14 years after it was retired, this BAC Strikemaster still wears the colours of No. 14 Squadron RNZAF.
Файл:Team Viper display team in four BAC Strikemasters arp.jpg
The four BAC Strikemasters of the UK aerobatics display team Team Viper at Cotswold Airport, Gloucestershire, England
Файл:BDF Air Wing BAC Strikemaster at Duxford.jpg
One of Botswana's Strikemasters
Файл:RNZAF Strikemaster4.jpeg
RNZAF Strikemasters in 1984
  • Strikemaster Mk 80 : Export version for Saudi Arabia, 25 aircraft.
  • Strikemaster Mk 80A: 20 aircraft were sold to Saudi Arabia as part of a follow-up order.
  • Strikemaster Mk 81 : Export version for South Yemen, four aircraft.
  • Strikemaster Mk 82 : Export version for Oman, 12 aircraft.
  • Strikemaster Mk 82A: 12 aircraft were sold to Oman as part of a follow-up order.
  • Strikemaster Mk 83 : Export version for Kuwait, 12 aircraft.
  • Strikemaster Mk 84 : Export version for Singapore, 16 aircraft.
  • Strikemaster Mk 87 : Export version for Kenya, six aircraft.
  • Strikemaster Mk 88 : Export version for New Zealand, 16 aircraft.
  • Strikemaster Mk 89 : Export version for Ecuador, 22 aircraft.
  • Strikemaster Mk 89A: A number of aircraft were sold to Ecuador as part of a follow-up order.
  • Strikemaster Mk 90 : Export version for Sudan. The last Strikemaster was delivered to Sudan in 1984.

Production

  • Strikemaster 80: 136
  • Strikemaster 90: 10

Operators

Шаблон:BOT
Шаблон:ECU
Шаблон:Flag
Шаблон:KEN
Шаблон:KWT
Шаблон:NZL
Шаблон:OMN
Шаблон:SAU
Шаблон:SIN
Шаблон:Flag
Шаблон:SUD

Specifications (Strikemaster Mk 88)

Файл:BAC Strikemaster, Shoreham Airshow 2014.jpg
BAC Strikemaster, Shoreham Airshow 2014

Шаблон:Aircraft specs

See also

Шаблон:Aircontent

Notes

Шаблон:Reflist

Bibliography

External links

Шаблон:Commons category

Шаблон:British Aircraft Corporation aircraft Шаблон:British military aircraft since World War II Шаблон:Authority control