why didn't somebody at BWoS suggest a conversion to a sexy modern turbo prop ?
From what I recall of the debate at the time, BWoS recruited a retired 2* to advise them. This man's genius extended to another side-by-side jet which, as modern engines were so much more efficient than the Viper, could be built to carry half the fuel and still do an hour airborne. Which is what they bid. Unsuccessfully.
The competition was initially won by the PC-9 until the politicians realised it hadn't been designed in Brazil, when suddenly the Tucano became much more attractive. The Belfast dockyard mateys did such a great job of building it they managed to prove the RAF policy of taking apart the first aircraft delivered was a good investment, because it allowed the customer time to complain about the build quality before they got sent too many more of them.