BAC Strikemaster
British Aircraft Corporation · United Kingdom · first flew 1967 · fighter
The BAC Strikemaster was a British jet trainer and light ground-attack aircraft developed from the Hunting Jet Provost, offering improved performance and a weapons-capable variant for export customers. Its side-by-side seating and straight wing made it distinctive among combat-capable trainers.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.27 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Side-by-side two-seat jet trainer and light attack
- Straight wing with underwing hardpoints
- Derived from Hunting Jet Provost
Compact side-by-side jet trainer with a straight wing, a single turbojet in the rear fuselage fed by a nose intake, and hardpoints under the wings; similar to the Jet Provost but with a more capable engine and improved nose.
Specifications
- The BAC Strikemaster has a length of 10.27 m (34 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.77 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 760 km/h (472 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1967, the Strikemaster was sold to a variety of air forces that needed a low-cost trainer with genuine ground-attack capability. It saw combat in the Dhofar Rebellion with the Sultan of Oman's Air Force and in minor conflicts involving Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, and other operators. Some aircraft remained in service into the 2000s.
Variants
Numerous marks were produced to suit different customers; the Mk.80 series served Saudi Arabia and the Mk.90 series served several smaller air forces.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Oman, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, New Zealand, Singapore, Kenya, Kuwait and several other air forces; the Omani aircraft saw the most significant combat use.
Related aircraft
- BAC One-Eleven 500
- English Electric / BAC Lightning F.6
- BAC One-Eleven 475
- BAC TSR-2
- Aermacchi / CAC MB-326H
- BAC Jet Provost T.5
- Dassault Mirage 5
- Dassault Mirage 5F
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