Percival Provost
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| Percival Provost | |
|---|---|
 A Percival Provost T.1 preserved as part of The Shuttleworth Collection. |
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| Type | Military trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Percival |
| Designed by | Henry Millicer |
| Maiden flight | 24 February 1950 |
| Introduced | 1953 |
| Retired | 1969 |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force Burma Iraq Irish Air Corps |
| Produced | 1950-1956 |
| Number built | 461 |
| Variants | Jet Provost |
The Percival P.56 Provost was a British-built ab initio trainer for the Royal Air Force in the 1950s, replacing the Percival Prentice. It was a low-wing, monoplane with a fixed, tailwheel, undercarriage. Seating was side-by-side. After a lengthy service career, the basic design was adapted for a turbojet.
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[edit] Design and development
The Provost was designed to Air Ministry specification T.16/48 for a basic trainer to replace the Percival Prentice. The British Air Ministry further issued Operational Requirement 257 (O.R.257), defining the need for a new, higher performance, piston-engine trainer. [1]The prototype first flew on 24 February 1950, powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah 18 engine, which was replaced by an Alvis Leonides engine on later prototypes and production aircraft[2]
After evaluation against the Handley Page H.P.R 2, the Provost was selected for production, with an initial order being placed in 1951. Production ended in 1956 when 461 aircraft had been completed. The Percival Provost eventually formed the basis for the Jet Provost trainer which replaced it in RAF service.
[edit] Operational history
The Provost entered service with the RAF in 1953. As it had more than twice the power than its predecessor, the Prentice, it had much higher performance and manoeuvrability. It served with the RAF until the early 1960s, when it was replaced by the Jet Provost. A few Provosts soldiered on until the last example was retired in 1969. Several retired airframes were renumbered with Maintenance Numbers and used during the basic training of airframe and engine tradesmen. At least five Percival Provost have survived as civilian aircraft.
[edit] Variants
- Provost T.Mk 1 : Two-seat basic trainer for the RAF.
- Provost Mk 51 : Unarmed export version for the Irish Air Corps.
- Provost Mk 52 : Armed export version for the Rhodesian Air Force.
- Provost Mk 53 : Armed export version for Burma, Iraq, Ireland and Sudan.
[edit] Operators
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[edit] Specifications (T.1)
Data from World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 28 ft 6 in (8.73 m)
- Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.7 m)
- Height: 12 ft 0 in (3.70 m)
- Wing area: 214 ft² (19.9 m²)
- Empty weight: 3,350 lb (1,523 kg)
- Loaded weight: 4,399 lb (1,995 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Alvis Leonides 126 9-cylinder radial engine, 550 hp (410 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 200 mph (170 knots, 320 km/h) at sea level
- Range: 560 nm (650 mi, 1,020 km)
- Service ceiling 25,000 ft (7620 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,200 ft/min (11.2 m/s)
- Wing loading: 20.6 lb/ft² (100 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.276 hp/lb (0.206 kW/kg)
- Climb to 10,000 ft 3.27 minutes
- Endurance 4 hours
[edit] See also
Related development
Related lists
- List of aircraft of the RAF
- List of trainer aircraft
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Hunting (Percival) P.56 Provost
- ^ Thetford 1957
- ^ Angelucci 1981
[edit] Bibliography
- Angelucci, Enzo. World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing, 1981. ISBN 0-7106-0148-4.
- Thetford, Owen. Aircraft of the Royal Aircraft 1918-57, 1st edition. London: Putnam, 1957.
[edit] External links
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