Percival Jet Provost

Developed by Hunting from the piston-engined Percival Provost basic trainer. Made in great numbers for the RAF and many countries overseas. Developed again into the Strikemaster multi-role trainer & attack version with more powerful engines. Recently the remaining T.3A and T.5A airframes have been replaced by the Tucano in the RAF inventory. The Tucano uses eight times less fuel than the Provost, and achieves similar performance figures. The Provost has proved a rugged and reliable aircraft over many years. Remaining examples are used for training of ground handling, notably at RAF Cosford.

The T.3 was the first (and most numerous) Jet Provost. It was equipped with the RR Viper 101 engine, unpressurized, had small tip tanks and a low canopy which moved straight back. The T.4 was a higher performance version with the bigger RR Viper 201 engine but the same airframe, almost all of the T.4's are fatigued out (there are perhaps 3 airworthy examples remaining). The T.5 was a navigational/bomber trainer which used the RR 201 engine in a redesigned airframe which was pressurized, had a large upwards-sliding canopy, larger tip tanks and updated avionics. When the T.4's fatigued out, they were replaced with the T-5A which was like the T-5 but added modifications to improve aerobatic performance, no tip tanks, spin strakes, roughened leading wing edges, a slat above and a fence under the engine intakes. Another derivative is the 167 Strikemaster, a ground attack airplane built for export with the T-5 airframe, a 3500# engine, upgraded brakes and armour. The "hot plane" of the lot is the 167 Strikemaster with the armour removed.

TYPE
two seat basic trainer/ light strike aircraft

MANUFACTURER
Hunting/B.A.C. - British Aerospace.

ENGINE
(T.5) single Bristol Siddeley Viper 201 turbojet 2,500lb (1,134kg) thrust

DIMENSIONS