Having lived part of my life in Stockport, had many visits around the Woodford factory and having been friends for more years than I care to remember with Harry Holmes, one time Marketing Manager for Hawker Siddeley/BAe Manchester and now, in retirement, a noted AVRO/Hawker Siddeley historian, the execution of the MRA4 and the closure of Woodford and Chadderton has been an act of political and economic vandalism which I hope the UK won't one day regret.
QUESTION
Now, keeping up the theme of derivatives, this type was developed by the seeming prime customer as a larger version of a type for which it had been the largest customer. The type was initially built in a joint venture with two other participants, one being the manufacturer. After evaluation that customer didn't place the expected large order, but kept the aircraft it had tested.
Penny numbers were ordered by the other participant and two air forces before production ceased.
Some years later production was reopened for a further 8 years for a variety of customers though it was 11 years after the line re-opened before the last example was delivered.