- 224 pages
- English
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eBook - ePub
From Jet Provost to Strikemaster
About this book
This book covers the complete and long overdue history of the Hunting/BAC Jet Provost and Strikemaster, which for thirty-eight years trained generations of pilots and pioneered the RAF’s all-through flying training program. Originally designed and built in 1951 as a private venture by Percival Aircraft in Luton, the Jet Provost became the primary jet-powered training aircraft for the RAF following a series of experimental courses at RAF Hullavington in 1955. By 1957, there was a contract for the production order of 100 Jet Provost T Mk. 3s. The Jet Provost even had a display flying team between 1958 and 1976 but was eventually withdrawn from RAF service in July 1993. The development of the BAC 167 Strikemaster in the 1960s saw a light-attack aircraft designed for counterinsurgency operations and predominantly used by overseas air forces. Adopted by thirteen air forces, both types have seen an array of action – from the Dhofar War to operating as close support and counterinsurgency against well-armed, communist-back guerrillas. Despite some 723 Jet Provost and Strikemaster airframes produced between 1954 and 1983, these aircraft have been overlooked in contrast to other jet types in the same period until now. David Watkins has produced an extensive look at these aircraft after years of painstaking research assisted by veterans and historians. Having accessed the archives of the Warton Collection, he has amassed a range of rare photography to accompany the extraordinary history of these jets. From Jet Provost to Strikemaster is a work of narrative and technical detail which will satisfy the most avid aviation fans. Furthermore, Airfix have recently released a Jet Provost model, increasing interest in this long neglected aircraft.
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Yes, you can access From Jet Provost to Strikemaster by David Watkins in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & British History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Jet Provost Mk.5s on the final assembly line at Warton. (BAe Systems Heritage Warton-Percival/Hunting Collection)
APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1
RAF JET PROVOST DISPLAY FLYING TEAMS 1958-1976
1958
Four Jet Provost T Mk.1s of the CFS
Little Rissington
The Central Flying School Jet Aerobatic Team
Flt Lts N. H. Giffin, D. McClen, F. W. J. Packer and D. Millington. Reserve: Flt Lt M. Edwards
XD675, XD676, XD677, XD678, XD679, XD680, XD693
1959
Two Jet Provost T Mk.1s of CFS
Little Rissington
The Redskins
Flt Lts P. J. Hirst and J. R. Rhind (synchronised display team)
XD675, XD676, XD677, XD678, XD679, XD680
1960
Four Jet Provost T Mk.3s of CFS
Little Rissington
The Central Flying School Aerobatic Team
Flt Lts R. Langstaff and F. R. Brambley, Plt Off B. A. D. McK McDonald and Flt Lt J. G. Nicklin
XM411:R-G, XM413:R-H, XM423:R-K, XM425:R-L, XM426:R-N, XM428:R-M
Four Jet Provost T Mk.3s of No.2 FTS
Syerston
Flt Lts W. D. P. Jones, D. J. Rowe and R. T. Stock, M Pilot J. McTavish
XM370:9, XM383:27, XM405:34, XM409:39
1961
Four Jet Provost T Mk.3s of the CFS
Little Rissington
The Central Flying School Aerobatic Team
Flt Lts F. R. Brambley and D. T. McCann, Plt Off B. A. D. McK McDonald and Flt Lt I. K. McKee. Reserves: Flt Lts T. H. Whittingham and W. W. Elsegood XN511:R-W, XN512:R-X, XN549:R-W, XN550:S-A, XN554:S-E, XN557:S-F, XN573:S-G
The CFS Jet Provost Aerobactic Team at the Biggin Hill Press Day in September 1961 From left to right: Wally Else-good (reserve pilot), Bruce McDonald (No.3), Frank Brambley (leader), Dick Whittingham (reserve pilot), and David McCann (No.2). Absent is ‘Snowy’ McKee (No.4) who had ejected from a Jet Provost (XM423) the pre-vious month. (Dave McCann)
Four Jet Provost T Mk.3s of RAF College
Cranwell
Flt Lts J. R. Lees, D. J. Hine, Master Pilot F. Bright and Flt Lt A. R. Pollock
(The above being just one example of the handful of informal College Jet Provost teams produced during this period at Cranwell and Barkston Heath)
Four Jet Provost T Mk.3s of No.1 FTS
Linton-on-Ouse
Gin Section
Flt Lt R. G. Corck, Lt C. C. N. Davis, RN, Flt Lts H. W. J. Rigg and A. P. Fox (Team reduced to three aircraft in early 1961, resulting in Flt Lt Fox being removed) XM465:16, XM467:15, XN461:22, XN469:25, XN502:29, XN504:34, XN506:31, XN507:33, XN509:35, XN556:18
Jet Provost T Mk.1s of the CFS Jet Aerobatic Team in a formation climb during early 1958. The team was led by Flt Lt Norman Giffin. (Don McClen)
A shortage of manpower and lack of available aircraft led to the formation of the CFS synchronised pair, the Redskins, in 1959 with two Jet Provost T Mk.1s flown by Flt Lts Jim Rhind and ‘Curly’ Hirst. (Norman Giffin via Ray Deacon)
The CFS Jet Provost team, the Red Pelicans rehearsing over south Gloucester-shire for the 1962 SBAC show at Farnborough. (via Ray Deacon)
Recovering from a formation loop, the No.2 FTS Jet Provost team on 19 July 1960 – Flt Lts Jones, Rowe, Stock and Master Pilot McTavish. (via Reg Stock)
Four/three Jet Provost T Mk.3s of No.2 FTS
Syerston
Flt Lt J. A. Spreadbury, Fg Off B. J. Stephens, Flt Lts J. E. Watts-Phillips and C. J. Wilmot (Flt Lt C. J. Wilmot dropped from team following a mid-air-collision in Feb 1961)
XM371:12, XM402:31, XM408:38, XM409:39, XM410:41
1962
Five Jet Provost T Mk.4s of CFS
Little Rissington
The Red Pelicans
Flt Lts I. K. McKee, K. F. Beck, I. Bashall, J. E. S. Rolfe and R. G. Fox. Reserve: Flt Lt A. J. R. Doyle
XP550:41, XP551:42, XP552:43, XP553:44, XP554:45, XP572:48, XP573:49
Three Jet Provost T Mk.4s of RAF College
Cranwell
Flt Lts J. Gale, J. F. Farley and S. Cutbill
Three Jet Provost T Mk.4s of No.1 FTS
Linton-on-Ouse
Gin Section
Lt C. C. N. Davis RN, Flt Lts D. M. Robinson and H. W. J. Rigg
XP589:36, XP621:38, XP626:39, XP627:40, XP637:42
Three Jet Provost T Mk.3s of No.2 FTS
Syerston
Flt Lts W. W. Elsegood, P. D. Jennings and W. Dodds.
Reserve: Flt Lt D. A. Bell
XM374:11, XM412:40, XM414:45
Four Jet Provost T Mk.3s of No.3 FTS
Leeming
Sqn Ldr R. W. Glover, Flt Lts G. J. Bailey, W. H. W. Norton and K. Marshall.
Three Jet Provost T Mk.3/Mk.4s of No.6 FTS
Acklington
Cock’s o’ The North/Suntan
Flt Lt J. S. Laing, Fg Offs R. A. C. Wakely and R. I. Morris. Reserve: Flt Lt M. R. D. Butt.
Solo display pilot: Flt Lt B. M. Shadbolt
XN603:7, XP638:42, XP662:45
1963
Six Jet Provost T Mk.4s of CFS
Little Rissington
The Red Pelicans
Flt Lts I. Bashall, K. F. Beck, A. J. Hawkes, N. T. Raffin, RAAF, B. A. Nice and T. E. L. Lloyd.
XP549:40, XP550:41, XP551:42, XP552:43, XP553:44, XP554:45, XP571:47, XP572:48, XP573:49
The official team line-up of the Red Pelicans in 1963, including back row: Flt Lt Benny Raffin (RAAF), Flt Lt Terry Lloyd and Flt Lt Brian Nice. Centre row: Flt Lt Keith Beck and Flt Lt Tony Hawkes. Front: Flt Lt Ian Bashall (leader). (via Ian Bashall)
Four Jet Provost T Mk.4s of RAF College
Cranwell
The Poachers
Sqn Ldr I. H. Panton, Flt Lt H. E. B. Mayes, Flt Lt J. L. Blackford and Flt Lt G. E. Ord.
XP547:82, XP560:75, XP566:81
Three Jet Provost T Mk.4s of No.1 FTS
Linton-on-Ouse
Gin Formation
Flt Lts D. M. Robinson, R. Holliday and H. W. J. Rigg. (In July 1963 the team line-up was changed to Flt Lts R. Holliday, H. W. J. Rigg and T. G. Thornton)
XP616:37, XP633:41, XP626:39, XP637:42, XR665:38, XR668:45, XR672:43, XR674:44, XR700:46
Three Jet Provost T Mk.4s of No.2 FTS
Syerston
Flt Lts W. W. Elsegood, P. D. Jennings and W. Dodds.
Reserve: Flt Lt D. A. Bell
XP614:41, XP625:49, XP641:34, XR648:33
Three Jet Provost T Mk.4s of No.3 FTS
Leeming
No.3 FTS Aerobatic Team
Sqn Ldr D. W. Tanner DFC, Flt Lts E. D. Evers and A. W. Parr
XP686:35, XR697:33, XR677:34
Three Jet Provost T Mk.3 / T Mk.4s of No.6 FTS
Acklington
Cock’s o’ The North/Suntan
Flt Lt J. S. Laing, Fg Offs R. A. C. Wakely and R. I. Morris. Reserve: Flt Lt M. R. D. Butt
Solo display pilot: Flt Lt B. M. Shadbolt
XR664:41, XR654:44, XR656:54
1964
Six Jet Provost T Mk.4s of CFS
Little Rissington
The Red Pelicans
Flt Lts T. E. L. Lloyd, B. A. Nice, W. A. Langworthy, D. F. Southern, H. R. Lane and R. S. S. Cox (Flt Lt Cox replaced by Flt Lt E. C. F. Tilsley in March 1964)
XP549:40, XP550:41, XP551:42, XP552:43, XP553:44, XP554:45, XP571:47, XP572:48, XP573:49
As the RAF’s premier aerobatic team, the Jet Provost T Mk.4s of the CFS Red Pelicans were presented to the media in August 1964, prior to their appearance at the Farnborough air show, the following month. (BAe Systems Heritage Warton-Percival/Hunting Collection)
Four Jet Provost T Mk.4s of RAF College
Cranwell
The Poachers
Sqn Ldr I. H. Panton, Flt Lts H. E. B. Mayes, J. L. Blackford and G. E. Ord
XP557:72, XP558:73, XP560:74, XR681:94
Three Jet Provost T Mk.4s of No.1 FTS
Linton-on-Ouse
Gin Formation
Flt Lt T. G. Thornton, Lts S. Thomas RN, and J. Carver RN
XP615:35, XP665:38, XP668:45, XP674:44
Three Jet Provost T Mk.4s of No.2 FTS
Syer...
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- CONTENTS
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- FOREWORD
- INTRODUCTION
- 01 JET PROVOST
- 02 RAF SERVICE
- 03 FLYING TRAINING SCHOOLS AND THEIR DISPLAY TEAMS
- 04 BAC 167 STRIKEMASTER AND FOREIGN SALES
- 05 FROM THE COCKPIT
- APPENDICES
- ABBREVIATIONS
- BIBLIOGRAPHY