Jet Provost XP 688

[maxburner]

I came across the remains of JP XP 688, at about 10 metres underwater in an old quarry now used as a diving centre.

She's in pretty poor shape after being submerged for a while. The canopy is detached, the nose covered in silt and my recce skills for JPs are rusty.

Can anyone shed any light on the history of this old jet, and does anyone have a photo? For once Google has let me down.

Many thanks,

Maxburner

[teeteringhead]

It's a JP 4 (the aerodynamic balance tab on the fin is a giveaway :) ) originally delivered to the RAF in December 1962.

Subsequently became a "maintenance airframe" used for training (the location of the quarry may help work out where) under the serial 9031 M.

[Edited to add:]

This website (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/airnet/MAMupdate9-2005.pdf) adds that it was sunk at the Delph Diving Centre, Lancs in August 2005.

[maxburner]

Thanks TTNGHD. It was indeed in the murky waters of the Delph.

[EC Does It]

Slightly off thread, Down at the RN diving centre in Pompey, there is a Wessex, Landrover, Tank (can't remember which one) and all sorts of other weird and wonderful kit. Anyone in the mob should be able to dive there.

[The Helpful Stacker]

Slightly off thread, Down at the RN diving centre in Pompey, there is a Wessex, Landrover, Tank (can't remember which one) and all sorts of other weird and wonderful kit. Anyone in the mob should be able to dive there.

There is a couple of Wessex helicopters and a fire engine on the sea bottom off Turtles Beach at RAF Akrotiri.

[henry crun]

There is a Meteor NF11 about 5 miles south of Ford, it slipped quietly beneath the waves in a level attitude, minus the hood.

[kluge]

Also the remains of a Lance at the seaward side of the Plymouth breakwater.

And apparently some bits from a Firefly off Chesil Beech. I believe that the engine was recovered and internal bits found to be corrosion free.

A JU88 - remains of - rests in Brixham bay. I believe that it has been since been destoyed as it ws carrying live and fused ordance.

[kluge]

henry crun

could you PM further details on that Meteor wreck pls or the history ?

[althenick]

My old man told me a story about an S1 Bucc just dropping into the sea out by Covesea on it's approach to Lossie. Seemingly the Aircraft went down but was not recovered. I dont think its marked and the Navy had to employ a local fisherman to direct them to where the a/c went down. Can anyone confirm this???

[EC Does It]

Oops, almost forgot, dived some Valentine tanks off Swanage years ago, not a bad dive, but there was a very strong current.

There is a B52 south of Rota, but its a 90m dive. Did it once, just to tick the box, but decompressing was a long job and the Atlantic is really cold after getting used to the Med....

Cheers, ECDI.

[maxburner]

ECDoesit

How long did you decompress for from90 m?

[EC Does It]

maxburner,

It was a trimix dive, as i recall it was almost 2 hours, so won't be doing that again in a hurry!

Cheers, ECDI.

[cazatou]

maxburner,

I checked my log books and found that I flew some 75 hours as an Instructor on XP688 - initially at the School of Refresher Flying RAF Manby and then on the Refresher Flying Squadron 3 FTS RAF Leeming - between August 1971 and March 1974. The Mk4s were then phased out and flying was done on the Mk5.

The Mk4s were far and away the best of the JP aircraft.

[maxburner]

Thanks everybody for the useful information.

MB

[Corrona]

Try the mouth of the humber, apparently it's a favourite place to throw old Lightnings, Tornados etc.

[12 PSI]

Sea King XZ582 is still where I parked it 150 Nm NW of Bermuda if anybody wants a look. Small snag is the 16,400 feet of best Atlantic swell above it....

[maxburner]

For those interested here's what I've found out via a friend who is actually writing a book detailing where aircraft on the UK register have gone.

Re the above , about XP688. XP688 was the last production T4. It served at RAFC Cranwell, 1962; College of Air Warfare, Mamby, 1964; moved to the Central Air Traffic School, Shawbury, by 1975. Moved on to 1 School of Technical Training, Halton, about 1990, as 9031M. Went to the a/c collection at Bruntingthorpe and thence to Botany Bay, Chorley, in early 1997. From there to the quary about 2000.

So, now we know.

Thanks everyone for the replies and interesting gen.

[6Z3]

There's a Raleigh racing bike (Stn Cdr's to be precise) in the lake outside the O/Mess at Valley.:O

[relight9]

Can you catch your PM's cazatou, cheers.

[ZH875]

For Jet Provost info, have a look at:

http://www.jetprovosts.com/index2.htm

This site states that Jet Provost T.4 XS186 at was ready for collection by the RAF on 31st January 1964. It entered service with the Royal Air Force on 10th February 1964. So I don't think that XP688 (It served at RAFC Cranwell, 1962;) was the last production T4.

[lindslow]

Here you go. XP688 is the one coded 'E' at the front starboard of the formation and this was taken over Shropshire shortly before it was retired on or around 7/7/89.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/lindslow/CopyofCATCSJPformation1989reduced.jpg

Incidentally, it was delivered to the RAF on 10/12/62. :8

[relight9]

XS186 was indeed a later production T4 than XP688 along with several others in the T4 line.
She continues to make good progress towards a frustratingly limiting taxiable condition, after almost giving up altogether and becoming part of the undergrowth in Suffolk a few years ago !
If any of you have XS186 in your flight logs (1964-68 at CAW Manby) please let me know, i have Pat Cunningham and Peter Cowen (ex Macaws) who have found flights recorded so far..........

[lindslow]

...........and I can vouch for how good she's looking!
Hope all's going well Paul

[maxburner]

Lindslow,

Thank you so much for the picture. It's really appreciated.

Regards,

MB

[relight9]

Thanks Andy
I'll be sure to remark on how well she looks next time she takes a few layers of skin from my knuckles, or gives me another bruise !

[BEagle]

Takes me back to the days when the RAF could afford not only proper training but also real training aeroplanes of its own.....


Not to mention the RAFC Flight Cadet system.