1978/9, Piston Provost, Barton

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

When I was doing my PPL at Manchester Barton in 1978/9 there was a derelict Piston Provost as a 'gate guardian' by the path that then led from the main apron to the tower (before the Harbitt Hangar was built). One day it was taken away on a low loader. Anyone know what happened to it? Was it ever restored? Is it now flying?

SSD

[David Eyre]

Hi SSD,

Was it this one? XF914, taken at Barton on 18 August 1979:
Percival P.56 Provost T1, XF914, Royal Air Force (http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1100373/)

It was the last Provost T.1 built - construction number PAC/56/423, and was delivered to the RAF on 29 March 1956.

After retirement, it was sold to Flint Technical College, then to Airplane Collection, Barton during 1976, then in 1980 to Loughborough & Leicestershire Air Museum, East Midlands Airport, as seen here:
Photo United Kingdom - Air Force Percival Provost XF914 (http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=79020)


Later restored to flying condition in USA as N435WV, and still flying, painted to represent WV435/D-N. It is currently registered to Michael Dale, of Remington, Virginia, USA:
Aviation Photos: N435WV (http://cdn-www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=N435WV&distinct_entry=true)



Regards,
David

[Davidsoffice]

Interesting. I had a share in this aircraft. Involved in moving it from Flint to Handforth then to Barton. The aircraft was sold by one of the shareholders without the knowledge of (most of) the others and we assumed it had gone straight to the US. Surprised to see it photographed at East Midlands.

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Many thanks, DE. Glad to see it's flying... even if not in UK.

Cheers

SSD