Hunting Percival P.56 Provost
Hunting Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1950 · light aircraft
The Hunting Percival Provost was the RAF's standard piston-engined basic trainer throughout the 1950s, replacing the Prentice and preceding the jet Jet Provost. Its side-by-side cockpit layout was chosen to improve instructor-student communication during training.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.69 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- British RAF basic trainer of the 1950s
- Side-by-side seating under a broad canopy
- Radial engine with prominent cowling and fixed undercarriage
Characterised by its broad side-by-side canopy, prominent radial engine cowling, fixed undercarriage with wheel spats, and classic low-wing monoplane form — distinguished from the Prentice by its cleaner lines.
Specifications
- The Hunting Percival P.56 Provost has a length of 8.69 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.67 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 322 km/h (200 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Selected after a competition against the Handley Page HP.R.3, the Provost entered RAF service in 1953 and served for over a decade as the primary basic trainer. It was powered by an Alvis Leonides radial engine and proved a forgiving and effective training aircraft.
Variants
The piston Provost led directly to the Jet Provost, which replaced it and served the RAF into the 1990s.
Where you'll see it
Served with the RAF from 1953 into the early 1960s; also exported to several Commonwealth and allied air forces including Iraq, Oman, and Rhodesia.
Related aircraft
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