June 26th 2004…

AOBU is down to appear at Farnborough this weekend.

JP1/G-AOBU/Still flying at 50!

The only reason the Mark 1 isn’t seen more often on the airshow circuit is that no organiser is interested. They would rather have a Mk3 or Mk5 for the price of fuel only, than pay to have a very unique aircraft in their display. It’s a business proposition. The average aishow attendee doesn’t have a clue, so why pay more when you can have a pink JP for free. I believe that the Mk1 has been airworthy and flying since 1995. It was seen at the airshow at Cranfield in 1998, and not since, until this year at Cosford.

…marks the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the prototype Hunting Jet Provost 🙂

However this important milestone seems to have been overlooked 🙁

A 50th anniversary Open Day is being held at the RAF Cranwell visitors centre on July 4th, opening at 1030 and closing at 1630.
More information will be posted when I receive it.

Further to the above…

– Admission for this event is FREE!
– It may include a flypast from a JP subject to the usuals.

Sunday 4th July, 1030-1630.

One of the supervisors at works father was responsible for signing off every T3 & T4 at Luton.

She’s now owned and operated by Swords Aviation at North Weald.

JP5 prototype XS230

BAC 145 Jet Provost T.5, first true prototype XS230 with Bristol Siddeley Viper Series 500 turbojet first flew on February 28, 1967 at Warton. Converted from last production T.4. Enlarged pressurised canopy, extra internal wing fuel capacity; no tip tanks required.
Spent entire Service life at Boscombe Down, first with ETPS and then A&AEE. Retired in 1994 and auctioned.
Purchased by Transair at Sotheby’s auction on November 26, 1994, based at North Weald Airfield, Essex, from June 8, 1995.

Has anyone any updates on that information, please?

The prototype JP5, G-VIVM, is also at NW.

YR

It’s been undergoing an overhaul and has just returned to the circuit at Cosford.

G-AOBU is owned and operated by Kennet Aviation at North Weald. S/N P84/6. Total hours: 189 at 31/12/2003. Currently painted as XD693.

YR

Why is this never seen anywhere? Are they having problems keeping it airworthy, does anyone know?

G-AOBU is owned and operated by Kennet Aviation at North Weald. S/N P84/6. Total hours: 189 at 31/12/2003. Currently painted as XD693.

YR

…marks the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the prototype Hunting Jet Provost 🙂

However this important milestone seems to have been overlooked 🙁

A 50th anniversary Open Day is being held at the RAF Cranwell visitors centre on July 4th, opening at 1030 and closing at 1630.
More information will be posted when I receive it.

Mark

It seems the whole Jet Provost history has been overlooked by the aviation press completely! How many JP books are there? Where can you find the production list and fate of every JP?? What an under-rated aircraft!

First flights 50 years ago

Thanks, Stringbag.
Others celebrating 50 years this month:
June 1: Sikorsky S-59/H-39
June 15: Hirsch H.100
June 16: Lockheed XFV-1 ‘Pogo’
June 22: Douglas XA4D-1 Skyhawk
June 25: Dornier 25 (in Spain)
June 28: Douglas RB-66A Destroyer
Quite a varied selection!

Luton was the place to be 50 years ago!

First flight June 26, 1954, UK (where?) by ‘Dickie’ Wheldon
Private venture jet basic trainer
Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.1 prototype XD674
c/no. PAC/84/001
1 640 lb st Armstrong Siddeley Viper 5 Mk 101 axial flow lightweight turbojet
Designer?
Only 12 T.1s were built, 10 for the RAF registered (XD674-80 and XD692-4), with the remaining two being retained by Percival, one for structural tests, the other was used as a company demonstrator and registered G-AOBU (photo) on the British civilian aircraft register.

Extract from my database, can anyone please help to fill in the gaps?