Jet Provost heaven - Jet Provost T.4 survivor

Hunting-Percival built Jet Provost T.4 XS186 at Luton. It was ready for collection by the RAF on 31st January 1964. It entered service with the Royal Air Force on 10th February 1964, the home of the College of Air Warfare (CAW), RAF Manby.
Originally coded 'A', but later '10', XS186 was in service with the Unit for four years. It was flown to RAF Shawbury for storage with 27MU on 22nd July 1968. Almost five years later, XS186 was moved to RAF Kemble for further storage, this time with 5MU.
On 25th June 1974 the aircraft was declared a Non Effective Airframe, and by the end of October that year, it had been officially struck off charge.

Issued the RAF maintenance serial 8408M, XS186 was moved to RAF St Athan,where it was used for engineering training with the RAF's 4SoTT school. By the end of the decade, the aircraft had moved to 1SoTT, RAF Halton, joining numerous other examples of the JP in use as ground trainers. It remained in use at the school until April 1992, when it was moved by road to RAF North Luffenham, to act as a weapons disposal trainer. By the end of the year, XS186 had been re-painted in an olive drab colour scheme.

In 2002, it was put up for disposal and was subsequently acquired by Everett Aero, and following a move to their Ipswich premises XS186 was again offered for sale.
Snapped up in early 2004 by Paul Flynn, the aircraft was disassembled and moved by road to Metheringham airfield in Lincolnshire. It is currently undergoing a full restoration to static display condition. Paul intends to paint the aircraft in a colour scheme not seen for over thirty years.

During 2009, the restoration was progressing well, and the engine was refitted in February. We wish them well with the remaining work :)

KNOWN JET PROVOST T.4 SURVIVORS
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