Here's how it all began . . .
My tenure of being 324’s custodian began in September 2007 when I set out on a rather unplanned adventure, in fact I had no idea exactly where I was going, how long it would take or how long it would last. In essence I was blindly following a boyhood dream which despite all the apparent and insurmountable odds suddenly became a reality.
My plan had originally been to find, purchase and carry out a complete restoration of a Jet Provost Mk5 aircraft and to run the restoration alongside my day job restoring VIP aircraft interiors. From that experience and various discussions with others who had already trod this path, I anticipated the work would take around 5 years or thereabouts.
I was planning to carry out the necessary work on a ‘pay as you go’ basis to make the project more affordable. However knowing myself and the pride I take in completing each and every task to the best possible standard, it was already clear the predicted five years was going to be a somewhat ambitious goal.
What happened next however was something I never foresaw!
Out of the blue, I received a call and the voice at the other end of the phone simply said ‘are you still looking for a JP5 airframe’? Without hesitation I said yes and he proceeded to explain XW324 was for sale. My heart sank somewhat when he told me it was 324 as I knew she was already airworthy and a prime example of the type.
He calmly said ‘well the current owner has to sell her so make him a silly offer, he may just take it’ ! Caught totally off guard and by surprise I said the first figure that came into my head and thought that was the end of that !
About 50 minutes later I got another call, this time he said calmly and clearly ‘congratulations you’ve just bought yourself a Jet Provost!
That’s when reality hits you, I suddenly realised I needed to (a) find the money I’d just offered, and (b) find somewhere to keep it.
Once panic had subsided, I applied the best logic I could muster and began to attack each hurdle one at a time, luckily I managed to convince the owner of Donington Aviation at East Midlands Airport where I was training to let me keep her in the hangar where she remains to this day.
Over the years 324 has become a labour of love and to date has had 1000’s of hours lavished on her to bring her to a condition as close as possible (without a complete rebuild) to how she looked when delivered to the RAF in September 1970. Somehow I have a funny feeling there are 1000s more hours of work yet to come, most of the time is taken paying close attention to fine details but to be fair I love and enjoy it all immensely.
To date 324’s nose bay has been completely restored to stock condition as has the cockpit, ejection seats and seat main guns. She’s also recently had a complete new set of seat & parachute harnesses, new parachute main canopies and new set of seat upholstery.
In summary, I would encourage and urge everyone who has a dream to follow it, even if that dream only lasts but a mere moment in time, it’s better to have had and realised that moment than spend the rest of your life wishing you had!!!!!!
Happy flying and enjoy the 2024 season.
Jeff Bell
My plan had originally been to find, purchase and carry out a complete restoration of a Jet Provost Mk5 aircraft and to run the restoration alongside my day job restoring VIP aircraft interiors. From that experience and various discussions with others who had already trod this path, I anticipated the work would take around 5 years or thereabouts.
I was planning to carry out the necessary work on a ‘pay as you go’ basis to make the project more affordable. However knowing myself and the pride I take in completing each and every task to the best possible standard, it was already clear the predicted five years was going to be a somewhat ambitious goal.
What happened next however was something I never foresaw!
Out of the blue, I received a call and the voice at the other end of the phone simply said ‘are you still looking for a JP5 airframe’? Without hesitation I said yes and he proceeded to explain XW324 was for sale. My heart sank somewhat when he told me it was 324 as I knew she was already airworthy and a prime example of the type.
He calmly said ‘well the current owner has to sell her so make him a silly offer, he may just take it’ ! Caught totally off guard and by surprise I said the first figure that came into my head and thought that was the end of that !
About 50 minutes later I got another call, this time he said calmly and clearly ‘congratulations you’ve just bought yourself a Jet Provost!
That’s when reality hits you, I suddenly realised I needed to (a) find the money I’d just offered, and (b) find somewhere to keep it.
Once panic had subsided, I applied the best logic I could muster and began to attack each hurdle one at a time, luckily I managed to convince the owner of Donington Aviation at East Midlands Airport where I was training to let me keep her in the hangar where she remains to this day.
Over the years 324 has become a labour of love and to date has had 1000’s of hours lavished on her to bring her to a condition as close as possible (without a complete rebuild) to how she looked when delivered to the RAF in September 1970. Somehow I have a funny feeling there are 1000s more hours of work yet to come, most of the time is taken paying close attention to fine details but to be fair I love and enjoy it all immensely.
To date 324’s nose bay has been completely restored to stock condition as has the cockpit, ejection seats and seat main guns. She’s also recently had a complete new set of seat & parachute harnesses, new parachute main canopies and new set of seat upholstery.
In summary, I would encourage and urge everyone who has a dream to follow it, even if that dream only lasts but a mere moment in time, it’s better to have had and realised that moment than spend the rest of your life wishing you had!!!!!!
Happy flying and enjoy the 2024 season.
Jeff Bell
