Welcome to Rowley Airlines
XW422 was built in 1970 and served initially with the Royal Air Force College (RAFC)
based at Cranwell.
In addition to its normal training duties as aircraft '3', XW422
was used on occasions by the RAFC aerobatics team "The Poachers" throughout the early
1970's. It was converted by BAC in late 1975 to T.5A specification at Warton and
after a brief period with 1FTS based at RAF Linton-
Here it returned to its role as a procedural
trainer to help prepare the next batch of student pilots for the frontline Phantom,
Jaguar and Lightning Units. In 1989 XW422, along with most of the other RAFC JPs,
passed onto the strength of 3FTS, which had just recently moved to Cranwell from
Scampton. Two years later, the aircraft was formally retired from RAF training duties
and flown to RAF Shawbury for storage, where it remained until being sold in 1995.
Purchased by Everett Aero it was flown to North Weald where Bob Thompson subsequently
acquired it. In 1996 Bob teamed up with Tom Moloney, to form the "Transair Jet Provost
duo" using XW422 and Tom's Jet Provost T.5P XS230 G-
As a result XW422 was offered for sale
and was acquired by a new owner, who continued to base the jet at North Weald.
In early 2003 aviation enthusiast Shaun Patrick bought XW422. It was flown to its new home at Kemble where it is maintained by Delta Jets. Still resplendent in its ETPS paint scheme, the aircraft has in the past lost its tip tanks, and received new brakes as used on the Strikemaster. It is a regular sight at the annual Kemble airshows on the ground and in the air.
Visit us at our first outing at
Wellesbourne ‘Wings & Wheels’
Sunday 17th June 2012
