Hunting Aircraft Jet Provost XM480
Nikon D600, AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR at 32mm, 1/1000s, f8, ISO 200
What was I photographing on this day in previous years?
Five years ago it was this gently decaying Hunting Aircraft Jet Provost trainer aircraft XM480.
Delivered new in July 1960 to No.27 Maintenance Unit (MU) at RAF Shawbury XM480 moved to No.1 Flight Training School (FTS) at RAF Linton-on-Ouse three months later. A transfer to No.6 FTS at RAF Acklington followed in June 1962 and a return to No.27 MU in December 1967 for storage.
Hunting Aircraft Jet Provost XM480
Nikon D600, AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR at 48mm, 1/320s, f8, ISO 200
Declared non-effective in March 1969 XM480 was transported to No.1 School of Technical Training (SoTT) at RAF Halton for ground instructional use and allocated the maintenance serial no. 8080M. A final transfer to RAF Finningley came in February 1994 before finally being tendered for sale in February 1995.
Jet Provosts were regular visitors to the skies above my childhood home and I used to watch them for hours…
Freelance Wastrel 