Model Airplane News Cover for June, 1969
Percival Provost T Mk 1
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Here is what the blurb about the cover has to say:

"... Roy Yates holds his magnificent Provost T Mk 1 at a recent scale rallye in England. Powered by OS Max 60 rear induction [engine]. Add any good multi [channel] proportional [radio control] equipment and you are in business of winning R/C scale ..."

About the Model

The author recognized that the general proportions of the full-size Provost were a very good match for scale modeling. The cowling and radiator in the front end made it easy to camouflage the engine (inverted mount). The maximum engine displacement in England (10 cc) determined the size of the aircraft which is built in 1/7 scale yielding a plane with five foot wingspan weighing 8 1/2 pounds. This left plenty of room for installing the R/C equipment while still showing cockpit details, a big plus in the beauty contest phase of scale competition. Construction was very straightforward with the exception of the unusual canopy. The author promised that MAN would provide vacuum-formed canopies to folks who bought the plans. It seems that trainers ( YAK-18P, Fleet, Chipmunk, Fairchild 24< and PT-19) seem to make the very best scale R/C competitors, probably due to their benign and forgiving flight characteristics). You may read about Roy Yates' model and look at the plans by clicking to enlarge the following photos.

        

Scale Model Provost T Mk. 1
Kudos to Roy Yates
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About the Full Size Airplane

The Percival P.56 Provost was a British trainer for the Royal Air Force in the 1950s, replacing the Percival Prentice. It was a low-wing, monoplane with a fixed, tailwheel, undercarriage. Seating was side-by-side. After a lengthy service career, the design was adapted for a turbojet.

     

Percival Provost T Mk.1
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The Provost was designed in 1950 as a new, higher performance, piston-engine trainer. The initial order was placed in 1951and 461 copies were built before Production ended in 1956 when 461 aircraft had been completed. The Percival Provost eventually formed the basis for the Jet Provost trainer which replaced it in RAF service.

The RAF used the Provost from 1953 until the early 1960s, when it was replaced by the Jet Provost. A few Provosts continued in service until the last example was retired in 1969. Several retired airframes were renumbered with maintenance serials and used for training of airframe and engine tradesmen. At least five Percival Provost have survived as civilian aircraft.

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