BAC Jet Provost T.3
Hunting Percival / BAC · United Kingdom · first flew 1958 · fighter
The Jet Provost T.3 was the principal basic jet trainer of the RAF through the 1960s, offering side-by-side seating and straightforward handling for ab initio jet training.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.06 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpressurised cockpit with a simple framed canopy and straight top line — no raised spine behind
- Straight low wing without the deeper-section root of the T.5
- Shorter nose than the T.5 and less pronounced wing-root intake lips
Compared with the T.5, the T.3 shows a lower-profile cockpit canopy without the T.5's more pronounced pressurisation bump; the nose is slightly shorter and the airframe has fewer external aerials. Both share the same straight low wing and side-by-side cockpit.
Specifications
- The BAC Jet Provost T.3 has a length of 10.06 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.77 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 658 km/h (409 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering RAF service in 1959, the T.3 was the first fully standardised variant with the Armstrong Siddeley Viper 102 engine and tip tanks. It replaced piston-engined Prentices and Provosts, introducing all-through jet training to the RAF.
Variants
The T.3A was a refurbished variant with updated avionics. The T.3 preceded the pressurised T.4 and the significantly upgraded T.5.
Where you'll see it
Served with the RAF Central Flying School and numerous Flying Training Schools across the UK until the mid-1970s; widely exported and surplus examples flew with civilian aerobatic teams.
Related aircraft
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