Jet Provost Mk-5 N4XW was built in 1972 by the British Aerospace Corporation as one of 140 for the Royal Air Force. As RAF 435, it served as a trainer at RAF Cranwell until 1992. The fully restored aircraft is owned and operated by R&D Jet Warbirds, Lancaster, CA. This pristine aircraft is available for air shows, memorial flyovers, media support, flight instruction and transition training (for qualified pilots), and flight test support.

The Jet Provost Mk-5 is powered by a Rolls Royce VIPER 202 Turbojet engine rated at 2500 lbs thrust. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 8000 lbs, carries 410 gallons of jet fuel, has a typical cruise speed of 325 KTAS, and a fuel burn of 140 to 180 gph at best cruise. N4XW is pressurized, carries oxygen, and is equipped with an IFR instrument panel including ILS, VOR, DME, and IFR GPS.

Pilots Bob Stambovsky and Donna Knighton are both fully rated instructors in the Jet Provost, and are the only married team of Jet Provost pilots and instructors on the air show circuit.

Pilot Bob “Stambo” Stambovsky has 4000 hours of safe flight time, is a CFI/CFII/MEI/ATP, and holds experimental aircraft authorizations in the L-29 Delfin jet, CASA Saeta twin jet, and the Jet Provost. Stambo holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and has been an adjunct professor for the ERAU extended campus since 1986. Stambo has over 30 years experience as an aerospace/flight test engineer for industry and government test organizations, and proudly served 39 years in the U.S. Marine Corps reserve, retiring in 2005 with his final 3 years on active duty with HMH-769.

Pilot Donna Knighton is a CFI/CFII with 2000 hours of safe flight time, and holds experimental aircraft authorizations in the L-29 Delfin jet and the Jet Provost. Donna has a BME degree from the University of Dayton. She has worked as an aerospace/flight test engineer for 26 years, and has extensive onboard flight test engineer time in an array of military aircraft, including the F-4, T-37, T-38, C-130, C-141, and C-5. She also has a background in flight safety, crew resource management, and systems safety, and served as a flight instructor and flight safety officer for the Edwards AFB Aero Club for many years.

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