BAC Jet Provost

The BAC Jet Provost is a British jet trainer that was in use with the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1955 to 1993. It was originally developed by Hunting Percival from the earlier piston engine-powered Percival Provost basic trainer, and later produced by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). In addition to the multiple orders that were placed for the RAF, the Jet Provost also attained several export deals with overseas operators, resulting in the type serving in many air forces worldwide. The design was also further developed into a more heavily armed variant for ground attack mission, which was marketed as the BAC Strikemaster.

Variants

 * Jet Provost T1: Initial production batch for the RAF. Twelve aircraft built.
 * Jet Provost T2: Development aircraft only. Four aircraft built.
 * Jet Provost T3: Main production batch for the RAF. 201 aircraft built.
 * Jet Provost T3A: Modified T3 with improved avionics for the RAF. Seventy aircraft modified
 * Jet Provst T4: Variant with more powerful engine for the RAF. 198 aircraft built.
 * Jet Provost T5: Pressurised version for the RAF. 110 aircraft built
 * Jet Provost T5A: Modified T5 with improved avionics and a rough grey coating on the wing to break up the smooth airflow and give the trainee pilot an early indication of the onset of a stall (the T5's original clean wing gave the pilot little warning). Ninety-three aircraft modified.
 * Jet Provost T5B: Unofficial designation: a T5 fitted with tip-tanks used for Navigator training. Thirteen aircraft modified.
 * Jet Provost T51: Export version of the T3. Twelve built for Ceylon, four built for Sudan, and six built for Kuwait.
 * Jet Provost T52: Export version of the T4. Twenty built for Iraq, Fifteen built for Venezuela, eight built for Sudan.
 * Jet Provost T52A: Export version of the T4 built for South Yemen.
 * Jet Provost T55: Export version of the T5. Five built for Sudan.
 * BAC Strikemaster: Ground attack version of the Jet Provost T5.
 * BAC 166: Private venture trial variant of the T4 with a Viper 522 engine.

Users

 * Australia
 * Royal Australian Air Force
 * Iraq
 * Iraqi Air Force
 * Kuwait
 * Kuwait Air Force
 * Portugal
 * Portuguese Air Force
 * Singapore
 * Republic of Singapore Air Force
 * Sri Lanka
 * Sri Lankan Air Force
 * Sudan
 * Sudanese Air Force
 * United Kingdom
 * Royal Air Force
 * Venezuela
 * Venezuelan Air Force
 * Yemen
 * Yemen Air Force

Related Development

 * BAC Strikemaster
 * Percival Provost

Comparable Aircraft

 * Aero L-29 Delfín
 * Canadair CT-114 Tutor
 * Cessna T-37 Tweet
 * Fouga CM.170 Magister
 * HAL HJT-16 Kiran
 * Saab 105