A BRIEF TECHNICAL SYNOPSIS OF THE STRIKEMASTER

Manufacturer              British Aircraft Corporation (now British Aerospace)
Country of Origin        United Kingdom
Service In service :     1969

Type                           
Light attack warplane with advanced flying and armament training capabilities

Specifications           
Strikemaster Mk 88, Manufactured 1972

Powerplant                 
One Rolls Royce (Bristol Siddeley) Viper ASV.20 Mk 535 turbojet rated at 3 410 lb st (15.17 kN) dry

Fuel capacity             
Internal Fuel 439.5 US gal (366 Imp gal; 1663.8 litres);

External fuel up to two 90.1 US gal (75 Imp gal; 341 litre) and two 60 US gal (50 Imp gal; 227.3 litre) drop tanks

No provision for inflight refueling

Dimensions

1. Wing
Span 36ft 10in (11.23m) over tip tanks
Aspect ratio 6.35
Area 213.70 sq ft (19.85 m2)

2. Fuselage and tail dimensions
Length 34ft 0in (10.36m)
Height 10ft 2in (3.10m)
Tailplane span 13ft 6in (4.11m)
Wheel track 10ft 9in (3.27m)
Wheel base 9ft 7.5in (2.93m)

3. Operational weights
Empty 6 195 lb (2810 kg) operating
Normal take-off 10 500lb (4762kg)
Maximum take off 11 500lb (5216kg)

Performance

1. Maximum speed

Never exceed speed 450 kt (518 mph; 834 km/h); max level speed ‘clean’ 410 kt (472 mph; 760km/h) at 20 000ft (6095m) ; max level speed ‘clean’ 391 kt (450mph; 724 km/h) at sea level.

2. Maximum range

Ferry range 1 200 nm (1382 miles; 2224 km) with four drop tanks

3. Action Range

On close support missions the following ranges for given weights are applicable.  Mission Radius of Action Warload Nautical Miles Statute Miles KiloMetres Pounds Kilograms

Hi-Lo-Hi 215 247 397 3000 1361
Hi-Lo-Hi 355 408 656 2000 907
Hi-Lo-Hi 500 575 925 1000 454
Lo-Lo-Lo 126 145 233 3000 1361
Lo-Lo-Lo 175 201 323 2000 907
Lo-Lo-Lo 240 276 444 1000 454
Radius of action of 300 nm (345 miles; 555 km) on a reconnaissance mission.

4. Performance
Maximum rate of climb at sea level 5250 ft (1600m) per minute; climb to 30 000ft in 8 minutes 45 seconds; service ceiling 40 000ft (12 190m)

Crew
Pilot and optional co-pilot on Martin Baker Mk PB4 zero/90kt (104 mph; 167 km/hr) ejection seats

Engine

(Photo and supporting information from Rolls-Royce)

The Rolls-Royce Viper was developed in 1951 and introduced in 1953. It is still in production today and has a variety of applications. For me that is quite remarkable. This is an engine that continues to be current despite being a design with 57 years under its belt. Its robust construction and simple turbojet design have helped to make the Viper one of the most successful aero engines ever produced

The original Viper engine was produced by Armstrong Siddeley (later Bristol Siddeley and now Rolls-Royce) to a requirement for a 10-hour life small jet engine and was intended to be fitted to airborne target drones. The engineers built in some leeway to allow for ground tests and were anticipating 14 hours between overhauls. However, the first tests in 1951 revealed a basic engine core which was so well designed that it would eventually be upgraded and improved beyond the wildest dreams of those pioneering engineers.(source Air Scene UK)

Arguably best known in the Jet Provost / Strikemaster, they served most successfully of all in the Hawker Siddeley HS125. And gone, but not forgotten, are the Shackleton Mk.3 aircraft that had Vipers fitted into the outer Griffon nacelles for additional takeoff boost.

Viper engines were also manufactured under licence in numerous overseas countries for fitting into a wide variety of aircraft. Sud Aviation in France fitted their Mach 2 SO.9000 Trident fighter with MD530 (Viper 5) engines on the wingtips to supplement the fuselage mounted rocket engine. A similar type to the HS125 is Italy’s Piaggio PD808 still in service with the AMI in an ECM role, fitted with a pair of Viper 20s. Other overseas producers/overhaulers included India (for the Kiran), South Africa (for the Impala), Romania (for the Orao and IAR99), Yugoslavia (Orao, Galeb, Jastreb and Super Galeb), Brazil (for the MB326) and Italy (MB326, MB339 and PD808).(source Air Scene UK)

In fact it is the latest production version, the Viper 680, that powers the Aermacchi MB339. It also powers the remotely piloted Jindivik aircraft operated by the UK's Royal Air Force as a target towing vehicle for pilot training.

So with more than 5,500 engines delivered and over 13 million flying hours, this may not be an engine that has touched us all in the way a Rolls-Royce RB211 most probably has. But with the current production and applications the Viper has a real chance of becoming the first 100 year old desgn still in manufacture -  how many aerospace products can say that?