BAC Jet Provost
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jet Provost | |
|---|---|
 Retired British T5A trainer now used for jet adventure flights. |
|
| Type | Military trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturers | Hunting Percival British Aircraft Corporation |
| Maiden flight | 26 June 1954 |
| Introduced | 1955 |
| Retired | 1993 |
| Status | mostly retired, some examples flown privately[1] |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Produced | 1958-1967 |
| Number built | 753 |
| Developed from | Percival Provost |
| Variants | BAC Strikemaster |
The BAC Jet Provost (originally built by Hunting Percival) was a British jet-powered trainer aircraft used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1955 to 1993.
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
In the 1950s the RAF issued a requirement for a new dedicated jet training aircraft. Hunting developed the Jet Provost from the piston-engined Percival Provost basic trainer. On 26 June 1954, the prototype made its first flight, flown by Dick Wheldon. The Air Ministry ordered ten of the Jet Provost T1, and in June 1957, 40 of the Jet Provost T3, featuring a new Armstrong Siddeley Viper jet engine, ejector seats, a redesign of the airframe, and a strengthened, retractable tricycle undercarriage. Percival built one example used purely for structural tests throughout the development stages, giving the designers valuable research into what could be achieved with the basic design. In total, 201 T3s were delivered between 1958 and 1962.
The T4 followed in 1961 with a new engine, and then the pressurized T5 in 1967.
The T51 was an armed export version which was sold to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Kuwait and Sudan. Armed with two 7.7-mm (0.303-inch) machine guns. The T52 was another armed export version sold to Iraq, South Yemen, Sudan and Venezuela. It had the same armament as the T51. The T55 was the final armed export version which was sold to Sudan.
[edit] Operational service
The Jet Provost proved to be a capable trainer; after successful acceptance trials of the T.1, the RAF formally accepted the type in 1957. The definitive T.4 and T.5 variants with the more powerful Vipers fitted, had extra thrust available, and that encouraged the RAF to utilise the Jet Provost in a number of different roles besides training. With a top speed of 440 mph, excellent maneuverability, mechanical reliability and low operating costs, the Jet Provost was utilized as an aerobatic aircraft, air warfare and tactical weapons training as well as advanced training.
Besides service with the RAF, the Jet Provost then found success as an export product. Jet Provosts were withdrawn from RAF service in the early 1990s and replaced by Short Tucanos. The Jet Provost remains popular among enthusiasts and being an inexpensive jet, many are now in private hands. Some are flown at airshows.
[edit] Variants
| Model | Number built | Manufacturer | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jet Provost T1 | 12 | Hunting Percival | Initial production batch for the RAF. |
| Jet Provost T2 | 4 | Hunting Percival | Development aircraft only. |
| Jet Provost T3 | 201 | Hunting Aircraft | Main production batch for the RAF. |
| Jet Provost T3A | 70 | Hunting | Modified T3 with improved avionics for the RAF. |
| Jet Provost T4 | 185 | BAC | Variant with more powerful engine for the RAF. |
| Jet Provost T5 | 110 | BAC | Pressurised version for the RAF. |
| Jet Provost T5A | 94 | BAC | Converted T5 with improved avionics. |
| Jet Provost T5B | BAC | unofficial designation, basically a T5 with some conversions and used for navigator training. | |
| Jet Provost T51 | 22 | Hunting aircraft | Export Version of the T3 (12 built for Ceylon, four built for Sudan, and six built for Kuwait). |
| Jet Provost T52 | 50 | BAC | Export Version of the T4 (12 built for Iraq, 15 built for Venezuela, eight built for Sudan). |
| Jet Provost T55 | 5 | BAC | Export Version of the T5, built for Oman. |
| BAC Strikemaster | BAC | Ground attack version of the T5. |
[edit] Operators
- Royal Ceylon Air Force receive 12 Jet Provost T51 aircraft.
.svg/22px-Flag_of_Iraq_(1963-1991).svg.png){kind=small}
- Iraqi Air Force received 12 Jet Provost T52 aircraft.
- Kuwait Air Force received six Jet Provost T51 aircraft.
- Sultan of Oman's Air Force received five Jet Provost T55 aircraft.
- Sudan Air Force received four Jet Provost T51 and eight T52 aircraft.
- Venezuelan Air Force received 15 Jet Provost T52 aircraft.
[edit] Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 33 ft 8.5 in (10.27 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
- Height: 10 ft 11.5 in (3.34 m)
- Wing area: 213.7 ft² (19.79 m²)
- Empty weight: 4,658 lb (2,113 kg)
- Loaded weight: 6,650 lb (3,020 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 7,300 lb (3,310 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Armstrong Siddeley Viper turbojet, 2,500 lbf (11.1 kN)
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.76 (440 mph, 708 km/h)
- Range: 600 mi (520 NM, 970 km)
- Service ceiling 44,000 ft (13,400 m)
- Rate of climb: 3,250 ft/min [2] (16.5 m/s)
Armament
- Guns: 2× 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns
- Rockets:
- 6× 60 lb (27 kg) or
- 12× 25 lb (11 kg)
- Bombs:
- 2× 100 lb (45 kg) or
- 8× 25 lb (11 kg)
Avionics
- Digital 720CH COM Electric Altimeter
- VOR/LOC/ILS Clock-Timer
- MKR beacons
- Slaved Sperry compass system
- Digital Terra TXP G-meter
- Standby attitude indicator with NiCad backup
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Warbird Alley entry
- ^ British Aircraft Directory for T.5A
[edit] Bibliography
- Taylor, John W.R. "Hunting Jet Provost and BAC 167." Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
[edit] External links
|
|||||
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
