Hunting (BAC) Jet
Provost
(Variants/Other Names: See History
below)
Jet Provost T.3 N7075U, ex XM466, photographed at
Nut Tree, California, 24 September 1998. Photo courtesy V.N. Smith
History: During the
mid-1950’s, Britain’s Royal Air Force utilized converted front line jets for
training purposes. The Hunting Percival Company felt it could tap into this market with an
inexpensive two-seat (side-by-side) jet-powered version of its successful Provost piston
engine aircraft. The RAF was impressed by the Jet Provost’s handling and seating
configuration; after a four year comparative trial period of the T Mk 1s,
201 Jet Provost T Mk 3s were ordered in 1959 with Martin-Baker
ejection seats, tip tanks, upgraded avionics and a clear canopy.
Later manufactured by the British Aircraft Corporation,
another 308 planes were delivered through 1967, a third of which were the T Mk
4, with 750 pounds more thrust. Another third were built as the T
Mk 5 version with pressurized cockpit, new windscreen, sliding canopy and
longer nose.
The Jet Provost design was later developed into the popular
and capable BAC Model 167 Strikemaster light attack jet, but even
the Jet Provost was to be armed with two machine guns on the export versions of the
aircraft, the T.Mk51, T.Mk52 and T.Mk
55.
With a top speed of 440 mph, excellent maneuverability,
mechanical reliability and low operating costs, the Jet Provost was an outstanding example
of its type. Retired from the military, the Jet Provost is now a popular and inexpensive
jet for warbird enthusiasts in England, the Netherlands, Australia and the
USA.
Nicknames:
J.P.
Specifications (Model T.Mk 5):
Engine: One 2,500-pound thrust Bristol Siddeley Viper Mk 202 turbojet
Weight: Empty 4,888 lbs., Max
Takeoff 9,200 lbs.
Wing Span: 35ft. 4in.
Length: 34ft. 0in.
Height: 10ft. 2in.
Performance:
Maximum Speed:
440 mph
Ceiling: 36,700
ft.
Range: 900 miles
Armament: None, although export versions
featured two 7.62-mm (0.3-inch) machine guns, plus underwing hardpoints for a wide variety
of bombs, rockets, or missiles.
Number Built:
520+
Number Still Airworthy:
40+
Links:
Everett Aero -- A UK-based company
specializing in the sale and support of British ex-military jets, including the Jet
Provost.
Jet Provost
Heaven -- Information about JPs and Strikemasters.
Jet Provost
3-View Drawings
PhotoVault's Jet Provost Page -- JP photos.
Puer Exuberans
(XW369)
Wikipedia Jet Provost Page
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Jet Provost: The Little Plane with the Big
History
By Bob Clarke
The story
of the Percival Jet Provost, the ubiquitous RAF jet trainer.
Over 500 aircraft were constructed for the RAF alone, in fact
practically every Royal Air Force pilot from 1960 until 1988
flew the aircraft. This is the first time all phases of the Jet
Provost's development have been discussed and illustrated in one
publication. Containing personal accounts, test and development
results and presented against a backdrop of major political
events, this is a thorough history of the Jet Provost.
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