Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Two-seat basic military trainer, light attack and counter-insurgency aircraft

Power Plant:

One 3,410 lbst Rolls Royce Viper Mk 535 turbojet

Specifications:

History:

The Hunting Percival Jet Provost was developed as a private venture from the piston-engined Percival Provost and was flown for the first time on 26 June 1954. Subsequently, continuing development produced a variety of variants for the training role for the RAF and other customers. Ultimately the type was supplied to Ceylon (later Sri Lanka), Sudan and Kuwait. These countries specified the installation of 7.69 mm (0.303 in) Browning machine guns, and provision for eight bombs and four rockets on their aircraft. Later the Strikemaster was specifically developed for the strike role.

The prototype Strikemaster flew for the first time on 26 October 1967, and production deliveries to the RAF began late the following year. A number of versions were developed, each varying in the equipment specified by the purchaser. These included the Mk 80 for Saudi Arabia; the Mk 81 for South Yemen; the Mk 82 for Muscat and Oman; the Mk 84 for Singapore; the Mk 87 for Kenya; the Mk 88 for New Zealand; and the Mk 89 for Ecuador. The Strikemaster, although similar in appearance to the Jet Provost, had a more powerful engine, some local structural strengthening, and additional stores stations.

Sixteen BAC Model 167 Strikemaster Mk 88s (serials NZ6361 to NZ6376 – c/ns 301 to 310 and 341 to 346) were obtained for the RNZAF for operation in the training and strike roles, being attached to No 14 Squadron at Ohakea. Whilst under test in the United Kingdom they carried test registrations G27-197 to G27-245. Three during their career before delivery also carried British civil registrations, these being NZ6363 (G-AZXJ), NZ6364 (G-AZXK) and NZ6365 (G-AZYN).

Having entered service in 1972, by 1987 the type was having problems with corrosion and fatigue and the New Zealand Government announced the type would be phased out as soon as possible. Tenders were called for a replacement. Pending the introduction of a new type into service one (NZ6369) was fitted with a new wing; and a further six wings were obtained from British Aerospace to extend the life of the type. It was considered the problems stemmed from the aircraft’s high utilisation time in service, particularly in the low-level role, thus producing fatigue problems. One aircraft (NZ6367) was lost in an accident near Waiau, North Canterbury, on 3 July 1985.

In the event the Macchi MB339CB was chosen as a replacement and seven of the airworthy Strikemasters were sold to an Australian company for conversion to civil warbirds. In addition, when the Strikemaster Mk 84 was withdrawn from service with the Singapore Air Force, sixteen were obtained by the same company for conversion. Most of these aircraft were on-sold to the United States but four remained in Australia.

Six appeared on the Australian register and others were expected to be civilianised in due course.

Registrations issued included Mk 84 VH-AKY (ex 315), later lost in an accident. Mk 88 VH-AGI (c/n 302, ex NZ6362, G27-198), this aircraft in 2014 being exported back to New Zealand where on 19 September 2014 it became ZK-NTY with Strikemaster Ltd of Auckland, in early 2017 being sold and exported to the United States.

One became VH-JFZ (c/n 303 – ex NZ6363, G-27-199, G-AZXJ), and another became VH-LLD (c/n 342 – ex NZ6372, G27-241), this latter aircraft being retired in November 2012, being dismantled and being placed in storage at Port Macquarie, NSW. In early 2014 it was shipped to New Zealand where it became ZK-BAC. However, it was struck off the Register on 25 January 2017 and was exported to the United States where it and three other ex-RNZAF Strikemasters have been operated by Blue Air Training in Las Vegas in Nevada, being used in the close air-support training role under contract to the US military.

Further examples became VH-ONP (c/n 341 – ex NZ6371, G27-240) and VH-RBA (c/n 310 – ex NZ6370, G27-206), this latter aircraft in 2011 returning to New Zealand where it became ZK-STR. Another became VH-ZEP (c/n 301 – ex NZ6361, G27-197).

A number survive in New Zealand: NZ6365 (c/n 305 – ex G27-G-AZYN, G27-201), NZ6366 (c/n 306 – ex G27-202), NZ6375 (c/n 345 – ex G27-244) and NZ6376 (c/n 346 – ex G27-245), all of which were stored at Woodbourne; NZ6373 (c/n 343 – ex G27-242) at the RNZAF Museum at Wigram; and NZ6374 (c/n 344 – ex G27-243) on display at the Ohakea Wing of the RNZAF Museum.

In addition, other examples withdrawn from service with other air forces have been civilianised overseas and one in the United Kingdom has been painted in RNZAF markings.

Another example was imported to New Zealand in 2011, this being a Mk 86A which became ZK-VPR. This aircraft (c/n EEP/JP/4096) was built for the Royal Saudi Air Force and, after testing in the United Kingdom as G-27-296, became 1130 with the RSAF. It returned to the United Kingdom as G-CDHB in January 2005, later becoming G-VPER and ZK-VPR to its operators at Christchurch in May that year.

A few remained with the RNZAF at Woodbourne as training aids, and in late 2011 the decision was made to provide four to museums, one to MOTAT in Auckland and three to other NZ museums.

A Strikemaster Mk 80A became VH-AIO (c/n EEP/JP/4091 – ex G-CFBK, 1125 [Royal Saudi Air Force], G27-291) on 27 October 2016 to Miltek Aviation of Carrum Downs, VIC. An unidentified example of a Strikemaster held by the Gippsland Armed Forces Museum at West Sale, VIC at one stage was fitted with a radial engine to be used on a movie set for ‘The Pacific’.

A Strikemaster Mk 87 (c/n EEP/JP/2876 – ex G-UVNR, G-BXFS, OJ-10 [Botswana Defence Force], 605 [Kenya Air Force], G-27-195) became VH-AGZ5 to Miltek Aviation of Carrum Downs, VIC on 23 December 2016, this aircraft as noted having spent time with the Botswana Defence Force and the Kenya Air Force during its military life.