Bob Stambovsky - 1971
Jet Provost T5
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.




Pilot Bob “Stambo”
Stambovsky

Pilot Donna Knighton

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