The story
The Jet Provost took the piston Provost trainer and gave it a Viper engine, a tricycle undercarriage and side-by-side seats, so the instructor could sit next to the student instead of behind. The RAF trained on it from 1955 to 1993. Plenty survive in private hands in Britain and beyond, and some are still flown by the people who learned on them.
The Jet Provost's side-by-side cockpit let an instructor watch a student's hands and eyes, an arrangement the RAF used for nearly 40 years of basic jet training.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Jet Provost?
Wide side-by-side canopy, a straight wing often carrying tip tanks, and intakes low on each side of the nose. The T.5 has a pressurised, more bulbous canopy; the Strikemaster is the same shape with hardpoints under the wings.
What does a Jet Provost sound like?
The Viper's whistle, pitched higher than a modern turbofan, with a distinctive moan on approach.
How fast is the Jet Provost?
Top speed is 382 kts.
How many people does the Jet Provost carry?
Typical configuration: Side-by-side two-seat trainer.
How far can the Jet Provost fly?
Range is about 780 nmi.
How big is the Jet Provost?
It is 34 ft 0 in long and 35 ft 4 in across the wings.
When did the Jet Provost first fly?
Its first flight was in 1954.
How many Jet Provosts have been built?
734 built.
What do crews call the Jet Provost?
The JP.
How rare is a Jet Provost in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first Jet Provost catch is worth 250 points.
