Dave Lawrence, a retired RAF and airline pilot has written to me inquiring about a specific Provost, do you have any information I can send to him – here is his e-mail.
Keith, I don’t know whether you have any contacts over there who could possibly help me. I am engaged in compiling a detailed history of the Percival Provost (piston-engined RAF Trainer in the 1950s).
There was one aircraft, actually the first production one, RAF serial number WV418, that was sent to Canada for “Cold Weather Trials. On 2 September 1953 it went to the CEPE (Central Experimental and Proving Establishment) at RCAF Namao, Alberta, returning to UK on 10 June 1954. It returned to the manufacturers, Percival Aircraft Co., at Luton, for a full “survey” and rectification after the trials. While in Canada, it allegedly carried the Canadian markings “PX-418”. I would really love to get a photograph of this aircraft while it was on these trials, and possibly even some details of the trials. Do you possibly know of anyone I could contact who might be able to help me? I was thinking of trying those “Vintage Wings” people, but cannot find an e-mail address. (We can’t use ordinary mail here anymore, things take forever, if they get through at all).