Sudan Strikemaster mystery?

I have seen a document from Bae which states the following:-

Re-orders: Mk.90 Qty 10 Undisclosed Country

There is no date against this entry. I am led to believe that one Mk.90 was an attrition replacement for Oman and redesignated as a Mk.82A.

Hope this helps :confused:

CC

Now that’s interesting, I am wondering if this is G-SOAF back in the UK? :rolleyes:

I have seen a document from Bae which states the following:-

Re-orders: Mk.90 Qty 10 Undisclosed Country

There is no date against this entry. I am led to believe that one Mk.90 was an attrition replacement for Oman and redesignated as a Mk.82A.

Hope this helps :confused:

CC

Albert,

The answer, I think, is ‘Ecuador’… No, I haven’t been at the Arkell’s best…

If you look at World Air Power Journal Autumn 1997, page 140, it says (of Ecuador’s Strikemasters):

“Attrition was quite high, with at least ten of the original two batches [ of Strikemasters] being lost by 1981. During 1985, Ecuador expressed an interest in acquiring six more Strikemasters three being from the embargoed Sudanese order (my emphasis). Built in 1978, these aircraft had been stored at the BAe Samlesbury facility in expectation of an eventual order; two of the jets were completed to serve as company demonstrators and were registered as G-BIDB and G-BIHZ. Negotiations were completed in 1987, and the first three Strikemaster Mk 90s were accepted in Novermber of the same year, with the final trio following on 21 November 1988. These aircraft now serve in a dual capacity of advanced flying training and close air support.”

Many thanks indeed! So I was right, they were neverdelivered to Sudan, hence no photos. Strange that all other references state that ‘Sudan ordered a batch of Mk.90s’ but no one said they weren’t delivered – until now!

Albert,

The answer, I think, is ‘Ecuador’… No, I haven’t been at the Arkell’s best…

If you look at World Air Power Journal Autumn 1997, page 140, it says (of Ecuador’s Strikemasters):

“Attrition was quite high, with at least ten of the original two batches [ of Strikemasters] being lost by 1981. During 1985, Ecuador expressed an interest in acquiring six more Strikemasters three being from the embargoed Sudanese order (my emphasis). Built in 1978, these aircraft had been stored at the BAe Samlesbury facility in expectation of an eventual order; two of the jets were completed to serve as company demonstrators and were registered as G-BIDB and G-BIHZ. Negotiations were completed in 1987, and the first three Strikemaster Mk 90s were accepted in Novermber of the same year, with the final trio following on 21 November 1988. These aircraft now serve in a dual capacity of advanced flying training and close air support.”

My information is that the Sudan Air Force received 4 Hunting Provost T.Mk.53’s for training in 1957. Four more ex-RAF were delivered in 1960.

Twelve Jet Provosts were delivered in 1967 replacing the Mk.53’s. They lost three of these aircraft in two months and another one was returned to the U.K. for repairs.

Another source of information gives numbers as follows:

Four T.51’s 57/76
Twelve T.52’s 62/79
Five T.55’s 83/98

There are reported to be 10 Strikemaster 90’s in service between 83/98. The last report in 2000 reports three 90’s in service.

Thanks very much and I can confirm all that, but it is the delivery of the 10 Strikemaster 90s that I am querying. Why is it that examples of all the other export Strikemasters have appeared in print, EXCEPT these elusive Mk.90s for Sudan? No one seems to have seen or photographed them at any time and not even any official manufacturer’s photos have been seen. This makes me think that the order was cancelled and they never got delivered?

My information is that the Sudan Air Force received 4 Hunting Provost T.Mk.53’s for training in 1957. Four more ex-RAF were delivered in 1960.

Twelve Jet Provosts were delivered in 1967 replacing the Mk.53’s. They lost three of these aircraft in two months and another one was returned to the U.K. for repairs.

Another source of information gives numbers as follows:

Four T.51’s 57/76
Twelve T.52’s 62/79
Five T.55’s 83/98

There are reported to be 10 Strikemaster 90’s in service between 83/98. The last report in 2000 reports three 90’s in service.