Percival Provost
The Percival P.56 Provost was a rookie trainer aircraft of the British manufacturer Percival Aircraft Co in the 1950s, replacing the Percival Prentice.
History
The Percival P.56 Provost was designed on the basis of the tender T.16/48 the Air Ministry for a single-engine training aircraft beginners, which should replace the Percival Prentice. The tender was published on 11 September 1948. Were submitted over 30 designs. Two designs were selected for the prototype - the Handley Page HPR 2 and the Percival P.56. Percival was awarded the contract to build two of a Cheetah - piston engine driven prototypes. Additionally, a third prototype was built with an Alvis Leonides Mk - 25 engine. The driven from the Cheetah prototype serial number WE522 first flew on 24 February 1950. Upon completion of the evaluation, the Ministry decided against the Handley Page HPR 2 and the run with the Leonides engine P.56, which first in a contract for 200 aircraft as Provost T.1 went into production. Production ended in 1956 after 461 aircraft built.
Construction
The Provost was a Ganzmetalleindecker and designed as a low-wing monoplane with fixed tailwheel landing gear. She had two adjacently arranged seats with dual control and a sunroof. From the Provost Jet Provost was developed, who replaced it with the Royal Air Force.
Variants
- Percival P.56 Mark 1: Two prototypes with Cheetah - piston engine for evaluation, later fitted with a Leonides engine
- Percival P.56 Mark 2: one operated with Leonides engine prototype for the evaluation
- Provost T.Mk 1: two-seat training aircraft for beginners, the Royal Air Force with Leonides engine
- Provost T.51: unarmed export version for the Irish Air Corps
- Provost Mk 52: Armed export version for Rhodesia
- Provost Mk 53: Export version for armed Burma, Iraq, Ireland, and the Sudan
Military use
- Burma Burma
- Iraq 1963 Iraq
- Ireland Ireland
- Malaysia Malaysia
- Oman Oman
- Rhodesia Rhodesia
- Sudan Sudan
- United Kingdom United Kingdom
- Zimbabwe Zimbabwe