Scottish Aviation Jetstream

The Jetstream was originally designed by Handley Page Ltd., but construction work was taken over by Scottish Aviation when Handley Page went bankrupt in 1970.

It was designed for use as an American commuter and regional airline aircraft, but was not very successful. Only 66 were built, with the first flying in August 1967 and the last aircraft built in 1975. 26 of the 66 were ordered as multi-engine pilot trainers for the RAF as the Jetstream T1. Of these 26, 14 were converted into T2 Observer and Navigational Trainers for the Royal Navy. The RAF retired their last Jetstreams in 2003 and the Royal Navy retired theirs in 2011.

Our aircraft (cockpit section only), XX483, is a T2. It was first built as a T1 in May 1974, joining the RAF in June 1974. It then served with the RAF’s Central Flying School and No. 5 Flying Training School. It was converted into a T2 Trainer for the Royal Navy in 1985 and served with 750 Squadron at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall until retirement in April 1996. It was then moved to RAF Shawbury to be used for spares reclamation, until scrapping in 1999 with just the cockpit section being saved. This cockpit was purchased by the museum and moved here in 2002, where it was mounted on a trailer and the outside of the aircraft restored.

The Jetstream is displayed outside.