Spirit of Shropshire - Jet Provost

The Spirit of Shropshire - Jet Provost is a project to renovate and preserve an iconic British aircraft with strong links to the County. It is based at Shropshire Aero Club, Sleap Airfield, Harmer Hill, near Wem.

The Jet Provost was the main RAF training aircraft from 1955 to 1993 with many based at RAF Shawbury and landing at RAF Sleap.

Shropshire has a very strong heritage of RAF training bases, especially from the 1940s, with a total of twelve RAF airfields. RAF Shawbury is now the only remaining operational training facility.

It is very fitting that the Spirit of Shropshire - Jet Provost project is based at Sleap as Shropshire Aero Club continues the County's flight training heritage by providing the facilities and support to help civilian pilots achieve their licences.

Sadly, one direct link with Sleap's RAF Jet Provost heritage was lost with the passing of former Shropshire Aero Club President, Roy Doulton. Roy was an RAF pilot and flew Jet Provosts as a civilian pilot in the 1980s from RAF Shawbury. The Spirit of Shropshire aircraft will eventually carry his name under the cockpit marking Roy's links with the airfield, the aero club and the aircraft type. Other club members with memories of the aircraft include Ian Mackay, Bob Scott who recalls flying it several times during training at RAF Church Fenton in 1980/81, and Keith Hodge who used to fly one for the ATC school at Shawbury.

The Spirit of Shropshire aircraft, number XN582, is a working example of a Jet Provost T3A and although it will not be approved to fly, once renovation is complete, it will offer 'jet experiences' that will include taxy runs on the airfield's runway. This will be a major additional attraction for visitors to the airfield to add to the present on-site museum, cafe and general aircraft movements.

The aircraft has been purchased by Dr David and Mrs Marjorie Somerville who are members of Shropshire Aero Club having had links with it since 1980. David also has a personal connection with the aircraft having worked on its avionics during his time in the RAF and, he believes, he also flew in it when at RAF Linton-on-Ouse while assisting the station test pilot. Once renovation is complete David and Marjorie plan to donate the aircraft to the Club.

It is hoped that the project will also create a range of opportunities for the development of greater community and education links with the aero club as it will provide a rare opportunity for those with an interest in aviation or engineering to get up close to a working jet aircraft.

An unavoidable fact is that renovating and operating vintage aircraft is not cheap and the project team hope you will support our fundraising to ensure long-term support is available for the Spirit of Shropshire.