strikemasters

[cerberamatt]

Hello everyone,Has anyone on here any experiance of flying them? I was looking at jp's but have just been told of a mk 87 strikey for sale.Does anyone know how much more expensive they are to run/maintane than a mk5 jp.Thanks in advance for any help on this.
Matt

[aeropilot]

I wouldn't have thought there would be any significant differences in operating costs other than spares availability vs. a T5 JP as aside from the uprated engine and shorter u/c and strenghtened airframe for the demands of a 'combat' use, the extra stuff was all mil equipemnt related and therefore likely to be removed/deleted from civvised Strikey...?
Different bang seats may be an issue perhaps in terms of cost servicing...?

Perhaps a call to someone like HHC or Delta Jets might be an idea..?

[speedtwelve]

My ex-boss at work was a Strikey QFI in Saudi, but I haven't seen him for ages unfortunately. I'd imagine the fuel-burn on the Strikemaster would be worse than the JP5, as it's got quite a lot more power. The Strikey's a little heavier than the T5 also, but as mentioned will have probably lost weight after being 'civilianised'.

Have you had a JP before? The fuel-burn at low-level's going to eat a lot of cash if you plan to tool about with the throttle open. JP syndicate is probably the best way to go to spread the cost into a maint fund, and even an old Mk3 JP will get you 300-ish kts absolutely flat out and some jet aeros.


EDIT: I know these guys have some Strikemaster maint & operating experience in the UK. Give them a call:
http://www.nwmas.com/

Edited by speedtwelve on Tuesday 1st June 22:43

[Merritt]

cerberamatt said:

Hello everyone,Has anyone on here any experiance of flying them? I was looking at jp's but have just been told of a mk 87 strikey for sale.Does anyone know how much more expensive they are to run/maintane than a mk5 jp.Thanks in advance for any help on this.
Matt

Hi Matt -

Is this one of the shares available in the Strike Master in the back of Pilot / Flyer mag? If so it has been available for some time (probably running cost related but no proof to back this up). As the other poster suggested, I would give Delta Jets a call and speak to them. If you can get to Kemble airfield, they will gladly show you around their toys too...

[cerberamatt]

Hi all,Thanks for your input.My idea was to buy it outright and start a group.I know there are a few jp groups out there but i just thought this would be a bit different.After a bit of reserch it seems a strikey will burn about 1/3 more fuel than a jp mk5 and considering the speed limit is 250kts anyway theres not much advantage for having the extra power/cost.Oh well it was nice to dream.

[Eric Mc]

My only personal aquaintance with the Strikemaster was building this in the 1970s

[Penguinracer]

Do you really want an aircraft which has a history of main spar fatigue. They used to operate "Blunties" back home in NZ - but they suffered main wing spar cracks through high utilisation & constant exposure to turbulence. Anyone who has flown in NZ will be able to tell you that there's usually always some turbulence ranging from leave your stomach in your mouth stuff over the lumpy hills & volcanoes of the North Island to orographic waves to 65,000 ft over the 12,000 ft high Southern Alps in the South Island. These aircraft just weren't strong enough to handle operations in that environment. You'd be better with Magister, Iskra TS-11, or Soko Galeb.

[cerberamatt]

Penguinracer said:

You'd be better with Magister, Iskra TS-11, or Soko Galeb.

The Magister and TS-11 don't really do it for me,I do like the Galeb but i don't know much about them regards availibility of speres etc.I am also looking at L-29's as there about the same price and fuel burn as a jp3 and quite a bit more fun imho.

[eharding]

cerberamatt said:

Penguinracer said:

You'd be better with Magister, Iskra TS-11, or Soko Galeb.

The Magister and TS-11 don't really do it for me,I do like the Galeb but i don't know much about them regards availibility of speres etc.I am also looking at L-29's as there about the same price and fuel burn as a jp3 and quite a bit more fun imho.

Trying to obtain a CAA Permit-to-Fly for a foreign ex-military jet type for which there is no precedent example already operating will probably be on a par with using a nail gun to attach your scrotum to the ceiling whilst burning bundles of £50 notes in your underpants in terms of pain and expense. You'd probably be better off spending the money on two weeks a year in one of the more amenable eastern European states thundering round in someone else's example than trying operate one in the UK.

If you go down the JP/Strikemaster route, you might be better advised joining one of the established groups and learning the pitfalls of operating an ex-military type before striking out on your own (assuming you haven't done so already).

[Penguinracer]

I've always felt that there's no such thing as "almost being able to afford to run a jet warbird!" I think you really need to be in the category where the cost is inconsequential to you, in which case a Hunter or a Gnat might be a better proposition. The alternative is to get something like a Zivko,MX, Sbach, Pitts, Extra, Zlin etc & as suggested go to Eastern Europe or the Jet Warbird Centre in Sante Fe for a rating & some jollies. You'll need 1000hrs PIC for an LOA in the US. I think Jet warbirds are great for high time pilots with more money than they know how to spend but are certainly not good for hour builders - cost & faffing around time being the major issues. There are a few airline pilots running Hunters etc - but what's the point in tying up the capital if you can only afford to fly it 30 hrs pa or when an airshow foots your fuel bill? These modern aerobatic monoplanes can perform manoeuvres a military fighter couldn't even dream of. As for speed - it's just a number on the dial & there's only any sensation of speed at low level. So where in the UK are you going to go tooling along at 500 knots at low level? Probably only at airshows. My understanding is that jet warbirds are permitted to fly at 250+ kts low level VFR in the UK provided they are under radar guidance. Low level & radar guidance don't really go together do they? Not unless you're flying over a billard table & that's hardly exciting is it?

[cerberamatt]

Trying to obtain a CAA Permit-to-Fly for a foreign ex-military jet type for which there is no precedent example already operating will probably be on a par with using a nail gun to attach your scrotum to the ceiling whilst burning bundles of £50 notes in your underpants in terms of pain and expense.


Point taken but there are a few L-29's in the UK with permits

If you go down the JP/Strikemaster route, you might be better advised joining one of the established groups and learning the pitfalls of operating an ex-military type before striking out on your own (assuming you haven't done so already).
[/quote]

I was in a L-39 group in France but its just a bit far to travel for a hrs aero's. this is why i fancy setting up a group my self closer to home.

[Penguinracer]

I thought there was an AD issued by the FAA banning JPs & Strikemasters from any aerobatic manoevres due to the main spar issue. It would certainly make me apprehensive about performing any aeros in an example which hadn't had a main spar replacement - which is uneconomic.If modern aerobatic monoplanes don't scratch your parafin-burning itch then another way to go is to join a Vampire/Venom syndicate.There's something special about the Vamp/Venom. It's just the risk of engine failures in those old timers which may be a cause for concern - but that's what training's for!

[cerberamatt]

I have to agree the vamp/venom is very nice,there was a share for sale at north weald last time I was there and I was tempted then.

[neilcharlton]

to answer the original fuel burn question :
JP3 = 20lb per min or roughly 10 litres per min
jp5 = 25 Lb per min
strike = 30+ Lb per min

I fly the JP3 and it works out at about 350-400 per hr in fuel costs . For a strikey probably 600-700 and a hunter / gnat 800-1000
depending on what you do , i.e. aeros , low level stuff.

I'm converting onto the JP3 now . we pay 1000 per share , 160 a month , fuel plus landing .
Its not cheap but its the most fun i have ever had !

[Simpo Two]

eharding said:

Trying to obtain a CAA Permit-to-Fly for a foreign ex-military jet type for which there is no precedent example already operating will probably be on a par with using a nail gun to attach your scrotum to the ceiling whilst burning bundles of £50 notes in your underpants in terms of pain and expense.

Or you could take the 'JFDI' route - there's no airforce to stop you...

[mat from preston]

neilcharlton said:

to answer the original fuel burn question :
JP3 = 20lb per min or roughly 10 litres per min
jp5 = 25 Lb per min
strike = 30+ Lb per min

I fly the JP3 and it works out at about 350-400 per hr in fuel costs . For a strikey probably 600-700 and a hunter / gnat 800-1000
depending on what you do , i.e. aeros , low level stuff.

I'm converting onto the JP3 now . we pay 1000 per share , 160 a month , fuel plus landing .
Its not cheap but its the most fun i have ever had !

I guess its the Newcastle one you fly if so i would be interested how you are getting on as its something i would like to do in the new year.

[neilcharlton]

mat from preston said:

neilcharlton said:

to answer the original fuel burn question :
JP3 = 20lb per min or roughly 10 litres per min
jp5 = 25 Lb per min
strike = 30+ Lb per min

I fly the JP3 and it works out at about 350-400 per hr in fuel costs . For a strikey probably 600-700 and a hunter / gnat 800-1000
depending on what you do , i.e. aeros , low level stuff.

I'm converting onto the JP3 now . we pay 1000 per share , 160 a month , fuel plus landing .
Its not cheap but its the most fun i have ever had !

I guess its the Newcastle one you fly if so i would be interested how you are getting on as its something i would like to do in the new year.

Lots of hassle , stress, and money; however if its your life time ambition as it was mine then its 100% worth it.
Doing 250mph 30ft off a runway to break into a circuit and parking next to a Harrier GR8 and Phantom F4 then drinking a beer with the Vulcan display pilot is a priceless experience. Email me if you want a flight : writetoneil @ hotmail.com