P.56 Provost

The P.56 Provost was a British basic training aircraft produced by Hunting Aircraft beginning in the mid‑1950s after the company acquired the type from Percival. Designed as a straightforward, low‑cost platform for teaching elementary flying skills, the Provost entered RAF service in 1955 and quickly became the standard elementary trainer for the United Kingdom and a number of Commonwealth air forces. It is a low‑wing, all‑metal monoplane with a tandem two‑seat cockpit that provides excellent forward visibility for both instructor and pupil. Power is supplied by a single Alvis Leonides 550 hp nine‑cylinder radial engine, delivering reliable performance and a modest top speed of about 210 kt. The aircraft features a fixed tricycle undercarriage, simple control systems, and a robust airframe built to withstand the rigors of frequent training sorties. Over 800 examples were built, and the type remained in service for more than a decade, shaping the skills of a generation of pilots. Its clean aerodynamic layout and forgiving handling made it an ideal bridge between glider or elementary trainers and the faster, more complex jet aircraft that followed, directly leading to the development of the influential Jet Provost jet‑trainer series.

Hunting Aircraft

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Design & Classification